Abstract
Based on the panel data of 224 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2003 to 2016, this paper empirically studies the impact of urban sprawl on air pollution and introduces a mediating effect model to test the mediating role of vehicle ownership concerning the impact of urban sprawl on air pollution. The research in this paper arrives at three conclusions. First, urban sprawl has a significant positive effect on air pollution, and this conclusion is still valid after solving the endogeneity problem and conducting a robustness test. Second, the results of mediating effect test show that urban sprawl indirectly affects air pollution through the partial mediating effect of vehicle ownership. By removing the mediating effect, urban sprawl has a significant negative impact on air pollution, indicating that the mediating effect of vehicle ownership is higher concerning the impact of urban sprawl on air pollution. Third, further panel quantile regression results show that the higher the level of air pollution, the weaker the mediating effect of vehicle ownership and the stronger the direct effect of urban sprawl on air pollution. These conclusions can provide some empirical support for solving the air pollution problems caused by urban sprawl in China.
Highlights
IntroductionOver the past 40 years, and more since reform and opening up, China’s urbanization process has been accelerating, with the urbanization rate rising from 17.9 percent in 1978 to
Based on the panel data of 224 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2003 to 2016, this paper explores the impact of urban sprawl on air pollution and examines the mediating effect of vehicle ownership on the impact of urban sprawl on air pollution
The results show that urban sprawl has a significant positive effect on air pollution and aggravates air pollution
Summary
Over the past 40 years, and more since reform and opening up, China’s urbanization process has been accelerating, with the urbanization rate rising from 17.9 percent in 1978 to. Urban sprawl plays an important role in driving China’s economic development and improving people’s wellbeing. The relationship between urban sprawl and air pollution draws much attention, the exact path through which urban sprawl affects air pollution remains unclear. The main reason is that there is a complexity and diversity of sources of air pollution. Urban sprawl leads to an increase in both commuting distance and commuting time, which in turn leads to increased car ownership among residents and causes more and more atmospheric emissions. This paper focuses on the econometrics analysis of how urban sprawl affects air pollution, and what role car ownership plays in it.
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