The impact of digital technology on water environmental participation: Analysis based on canton panel data

Abstract

With the help of the rapid development of information technologies, local governments in China have explored many new systems of promoting public participation in water governance aim to improve water quality and protection. One of the well-known systems that have been developed is called The Smart Water Management (SWM). Before finding out whether this system can boost the public participation and how effective the system is, it needs to figure out what the key variables play important roles in boosting the public participation. Focusing on the above questions, this paper employs the Ologit Model to carry out empirical research, which the author distributed 1400 questionnaires in Guangzhou, China, on the “Internet + River Chief System”. The research finds that the key variables are technology application cost, which can enhance 1.4 times chance to promote public participation, information participation channels, which can increase 34% of chances to boost public participation, and the technical means of access to information, which can increase 2.14 times of the probability to promote public participation. The research also finds that the political efficacy plays an intermediary role between SWM System application and public participation.