City Level In China Research Articles

Research on energy saving effect of spatial correlation network of digital infrastructure: based on the analysis of network centrality.

Accurately portraying the spatially linked network characteristics of digital infrastructure and exploring its energy-saving effects are highly valuable for enhancing the synergy in digital infrastructure development and expanding its network spillover effects on energy conservation. This paper uses panel data at the city level in China and employs a modified gravity model to calculate the centrality of digital infrastructure spatial correlation network nodes. Based on this, an econometric model is constructed, incorporating variables such as digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality and urban green total factor energy efficiency. The model is used to analyze the effects and transmission paths of digital infrastructure network node centrality on urban green total factor energy efficiency. The analysis yields the following conclusions: (1) Digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality significantly improves urban green total factor energy efficiency, with considerable variability due to city geographic location, city scale, and city attributes. (2) Nonlinear testing results indicate that as digital infrastructure construction advances, its impact on urban green total factor energy efficiency shifts from inhibitory to promotional. (3) The impact mechanism shows that digital infrastructure node centrality enhances urban green total factor energy efficiency through green technology innovation. Additionally, it promotes advanced industrial structures and reduces capital mismatch, further influencing energy efficiency. (4) Digital infrastructure node centrality not only boosts urban green total factor energy efficiency but also facilitates regional convergence, increasing the convergence rate from 0.094 to 0.170%. The findings of the research offer policy guidance for the government on advancing digital transformation initiatives and enhancing energy efficiency.

How does business credit environment affect exports performance of small and medium-sized enterprises: Evidence in China

This paper uses matched data from the CSMAR database and the China City Statistical Yearbook through a fixed effects model to examine the impact of business credit environment on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) exports at the city level in China. Considering the possible endogenous problems, this paper chooses the number of scholars in Ming and Qing dynasties as the instrumental variable of urban commercial credit environment. The empirical results show that: Firstly, the improvement of urban business credit environment has a significant contribution to the export growth of enterprises; Secondly, the mechanism of the role of urban business credit environment on SMEs exports is mainly expressed through promoting R&D investment and enhancing market dynamics; Thirdly, the business credit environment is more obvious to state-owned enterprises, eastern regions and cities with less trade freedom. With the development of urban business credit environment, individuals or companies join the competition in the industry through new start-ups to stimulate corporate exports, and existing SMEs promote corporate exports through local preferential policies, increased investment in R&D, and optimized innovation policies as well as resource allocation.

Advancing effective energy transition: The effects and mechanisms of China's dual-pilot energy policies

Quantifying energy transition (ET) and evaluating energy policies are crucial for global sustainable development. This study measures the energy transition index (ET−CCD) at the prefecture-level city level in China and evaluates the synergistic effects of the dual-pilot energy policy of New Energy Demonstration City (NEDC) and Low Carbon City Pilot (LCCP) based on the energy trilemma (ETR) of coordinated development in terms of security (ES), justice (EJ) and sustainability (ESU). The results show that the overall ET−CCD is increasing, with the eastern and central regions leading, the western region growing significantly, and the northeast fluctuating upward, indicating regional disparities. Compared to single policies, the dual-pilot energy policies have a more significant promoting effect on energy transition, especially in eastern, western, non-central cities, resource-based cities, and cities with high carbon emission reduction potential. Mechanism analysis reveals that the dual-pilot energy policies significantly promote ES and EJ , but have a negative impact on ESU in the short-term. Improvements in ES, EJ and ESU all significantly promote energy transition, with ES serving as a complete mediator, while EJ and ESU serving as partial mediators. Additionally, the findings remain stable in robustness tests and provide data support for a flexible mix of policy instruments to facilitate energy transition.

Energy Price Fluctuation and Real Estate Market Risk Prevention—Empirical Evidence at the Prefecture-Level City Level in China

Abstract The impact of energy price fluctuation on the macro economy is a hot issue that is continuously concerned by the academic community, but few literature have paid attention to the impact of energy price fluctuation on housing price and the financial risks that may arise. Based on the data of cities at and above the prefecture level in China, this paper empirically examines the impact of energy price fluctuation on the price fluctuation of the domestic real estate, and analyzes its influencing mechanism and transmission pathways. The results show that changes of energy price will significantly affect the fluctuation of domestic real estate price, and it is more obvious in large cities and megacities. Energy price affect the demand for housing through changes of interest rate levels on the one hand, and the supply of the real estate market through the cost of housing construction on the other hand, which leads to housing price fluctuation. After a series of robustness tests, the results are still valid. At the same time, the effect is asymmetric, that is, higher energy price increases the fluctuation of house price, but the impact of falling energy price is not significant. Therefore, when preventing real estate market risks, energy price should be considered as a forward-looking indicator to focus on, and the regulation and control policies of the real estate market should be scientifically formulated. This paper not only provides a new perspective on the mechanism of housing price formation, but also enriches the research on the interconnection between energy and financial markets.

Nexus among government digital development, resource dependence, and carbon emissions in China

Government digital development uses data technology to empower data for economic and social benefits, making social governance more scientific and efficient. Using unbalanced panel data of Chinese cities from 2006 to 2019, this paper explores the relationship between government digital development, fossil energy dependence, and urban carbon emissions. The results show that government digital development can effectively curb urban carbon emissions. The " carbon curse " phenomenon does exist at the city level in China, and government digital development is an effective way to break the "carbon curse." Heterogeneity analyses show that the digitalization of government significantly reduces the carbon emissions of cities in the East-Central region and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Promoting government digital development in large cities can effectively break the "carbon curse." In addition, government digital development can also curb urban carbon emissions through structural, innovation, and resource allocation effects. Therefore, due attention should be paid to the digital development of government, which in turn will leverage digital advantages and eliminate the adverse effects of fossil energy dependence. This is of profound theoretical and practical significance for curbing urban carbon emissions and promoting green economic development.

Mechanisms for realizing the ecological products value: Green finance intervention and support

The essence of ecological product value is the rational development and utilization of natural ecological and environmental resources, which are converted into social attributes or economic value. An accurate assessment of the value of ecological products is a prerequisite for realizing their economic value. However, few studies have measured the interaction mechanism between green finance and ecological products value. This study measured the ecological products value at the city level in China from 2010 to 2021, based on the dynamic equivalent moderator model. A spatial panel data model was used to analyze the spatial pattern and dynamic evolution of ecological products value and identify their driving factors. The ecological products value in China showed an increasing trend from 2010 to 2021, and there were obvious spatial correlations between regions. Green finance significantly contributes to the realization of ecological products value, and robust estimation results can still be obtained after controlling for endogeneity. Meanwhile, the role of green finance has a spatial spillover effect. This study provides a new research perspective for correctly assessing ecological products value and studying the role of green finance in realizing ecological products value.

The impact of digital economy on industrial carbon emission efficiency at the city level in China: Gravity movement trajectories and driving mechanisms

Can the digital economy be a key driver of China's industrial green and low-carbon transformation, promoting the growth of urban industrial economy and reducing carbon emissions to achieve a "win-win" development? The study measured industrial carbon emission efficiency (ICEE), analyzed the spatiotemporal center of gravity movement, and investigated the nonlinear and spatial spillover effects of digital economy on ICEE using panel data based on 270 cities from 2005 to 2020 through the super-efficient model, threshold effects and spatial econometric model. The results were as follows: The ICEE of Chinese cities has generally improved over time, with its center of gravity shifting from west to east, contrary to the trajectory of industrial carbon emissions. The effect of digital economy on ICEE presented an "N" shape of increasing (0.240), decreasing (–0.037), then increasing (0.145), rather than a simple inverted "U" shape. When green technology innovation was the threshold variable, the effect on ICEE exhibited a "U" shape of inhibition followed by promotion (–0.185 to 0.345) rather than a direct positive effect. The digital economy enhanced the ICEE of local cities (0.118) and generated positive spatial spillover effects (0.179) in neighboring cities. However, the impact of digital economy exhibited regional heterogeneity, with a radiating effect (0.117) on neighboring cities in the eastern region and an opposite "siphon effect" (–0.330, –0.174) on neighboring cities in the central and western regions. It is crucial to utilize digital technology sharing advanced industrial technology and low-carbon concepts to transcend geographical boundaries and establish industrial carbon reduction synergy from the eastern to the central and western regions.

The impact of sustainable finance development on energy efficiency in emerging economies

One of the best ways for nations to achieve sustainable economic development in the modern era is by accelerating energy transformation and enhancing energy efficiency. Sustainable finance plays a crucial role in bridging economic development and environmental protection. We calculate sustainable finance indexes at the provincial level and at the city level in China, and find that sustainable financial development can promote energy efficiency. These findings remain robust even after employing a series of robustness tests and implementing an instrumental variable approach to address potential endogeneity concerns. Investigations of the underlying mechanism reveal that sustainable finance primarily promote the energy efficiency by promoting technological innovation and optimizing the industrial structure. Moreover, sustainable finance has a particularly significant impact on energy efficiency in cities with non-low-carbon pilot and cities with strict environmental regulations. We further test whether green finance has a threshold effect on energy efficiency. This paper suggests leveraging the positive role of sustainable finance in the energy efficiency of firms, especially by encouraging firms to invest technologies to accelerate their energy efficiency. Furthermore, this paper aim to offer insightful recommendations for accurately formulating and applying sustainable finance development strategies.

Analysis of the Social and Economic Factors Influencing PM2.5 Emissions at the City Level in China

Respirable suspended particles (PM2.5) are one of the key components of haze, which not only causes a variety of lung, intestinal, and vascular diseases, but also affects cognitive levels. China is facing the challenge of severe PM2.5 concentrations, especially in urban areas with a high population density. Understanding the key factors that influence PM2.5 concentrations is fundamental for the adoption of targeted measures. Therefore, this study used the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method to identify the key factors influencing PM2.5 concentrations in 236 cities in northeastern, western, central, and eastern China. The findings were as follows. The emission intensity (EI) played an important suppressing role on PM2.5 concentrations in all cities from 2011–2020. The energy intensity (EnI) inhibited PM2.5 concentrations in 157 cities; the economic output (EO) stimulated PM2.5 concentrations in some less economically developed regions; and population (P) spurred PM2.5 concentrations in135 cities, mainly concentrated in developed eastern cities. This study provides a whole picture of the key factors influencing PM2.5 concentrations in Chinese cities, and the findings can act as the scientific basis and guidance for Chinese city authorities in formulating policies toward PM2.5 concentration reduction.

Does digitalization mitigate regional inequalities? Evidence from China

Regional inequality significantly influences sustainable development and human well-being. In China, there exists pronounced regional disparities in economic and digital advancements; however, scant research delves into the interplay between them. By analyzing the economic development and digitalization gaps at regional and city levels in China, extending the original Cobb-Douglas production function, this study aims to evaluate the impact of digitalization on China’s regional inequality using seemingly unrelated regression. The results indicate a greater emphasis on digital inequality compared to economic disparity, with variable coefficients of 0.59 for GDP per capita and 0.92 for the digitalization index over the past four years. However, GDP per capita demonstrates higher spatial concentration than digitalization. Notably, both disparities have shown a gradual reduction in recent years. The southeastern region of the Hu Huanyong Line exhibits superior levels and rates of economic and digital advancement in contrast to the northwestern region. While digitalization propels economic growth, it yields a nuanced impact on achieving balanced regional development, encompassing both positive and negative facets. Our study highlights that the marginal utility of advancing digitalization is more pronounced in less developed regions, but only if the government invests in the digital infrastructure and education in these areas. This study’s methodology can be utilized for subsequent research, and our findings hold the potential to the government’s regional investment and policy-making.

High-Speed Railway Network, City Heterogeneity, and City Innovation

The emergence of the time–space contraction effect from the high-speed railway (HSR) network in China has been beneficial in breaking down regional divisions, thus facilitating the circulation of resources and optimizing resource distribution and production efficiency. However, research has not adequately addressed the city disparities of the HSR network and their effects on city innovation. Through the heterogeneity perspective of ‘New’ new economic geography, this study employs the 2008–2019 panel data at the city level in China and builds a spatial Durbin model based on continuous spatial difference in differences to investigate the mechanism of the HSR network on city innovation and to analyze its agglomeration and diffusion effect of innovative factors under different city sizes and spatial perspectives. This study revealed that the HSR network could significantly increase the innovation of local cities and neighboring cities, yet there is a certain threshold of city size that affects city innovation. Large cities covered by HSRs can take advantage of gathering talent, financial capital, and industry from nearby regions, thus constructing a new spatial pattern of innovative development. This study also found that the innovation accelerative effect gradually decreases as the distance from the city covered by HSRs increases and completely disappears at the distance of 400 km. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the HSR network and increase the mobility and agglomeration of innovative elements between cities, thus deepening the collaboration between cities through differentiated strategies. This will enhance the spatial spillover effect of innovation, thus ultimately achieving a balanced spatial pattern of city innovation.

Assessing smoking-related behaviours using massive online search query data

Online search queries have been used in various behaviour studies. As smoking has become a global health issue, studies that assess smoking-related behaviours using online search queries have faced limitations in data utilization and study design. This study conducts comparative analyses to investigate changes in smoking-related behaviours represented by online search volumes. Baidu search queries from 2013 to 2017 were used to examine the search volume containing four groups of smoking-related search keywords. A validation process was used to validate the proposed method by comparing changes in search queries with the observed tobacco consumption. The results show changes in smoking-related behaviours assessed by online search queries at the city level in China. The validation experiments illustrate the consistency between changes in search volumes and tobacco consumption. Thus, online search queries were verified to be an effective instrument for assessing smoking-related behaviours, and this study sheds light on broader behaviour studies and policy assessments.

Is China's international trade exacerbating urban environmental pollution?——A quasi-natural experiment based on the opening of the CHINA RAILWAY Express

The level of international trade liberalization and facilitation between Chinese cities and countries along the route has increased significantly since the opening of the CHINA RAILWAY Express. Increased economic activity is bound to significantly affect environmental quality. However, academic empirical evidence on the effect of international trade on environmental quality is inconsistent. Moreover, there is need to further clarify the specific effect paths. Based on data from various cities in China, this study examines the direction and potential effect mechanisms of China's international trade activities on the environmental status represented by carbon dioxide using the Staggered Differences-in-Differences method, considering the opening of the CHINA RAILWAY Express as an entry point. The opening of the CHINA RAILWAY Express promotes environmental pollution in Chinese cities; this finding still holds after a series of placebo and robustness tests. A study of the mechanism of influence between the two suggests that the opening of the CHINA RAILWAY Express increased environmental pollution at the city level in China by promoting industrial agglomeration and improving green technology innovation. A study based on regional heterogeneity showed that the opening of the CHINA RAILWAY Express insignificantly negatively affected environmental quality in eastern China but significantly increased environmental pollution in the central and western regions. Further examination of the spoke network effect of the environmental pollution effect of the CHINA RAILWAY Express revealed that the opening of the CHINA RAILWAY Express in one city significantly negatively affected the environmental quality of all cities within a distance of 200 km. Although the CHINA RAILWAY Express reduces the environmental quality of cities in China where they are opened, studies using data from 145 countries or regions worldwide show that access to the CHINA RAILWAY Express is beneficial for the improvement of environmental quality in countries and regions along the route. This study explores the environmental effects of international trade from the perspective of the CHINA RAILWAY Express, enriches the relevant studies on the relationship between the two, and proposes new perspectives and conclusions to provide new empirical evidence and policy recommendations in the context of China's planning to build a strong trade nation and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Measurement report: Volatile organic compound characteristics of the different land-use types in Shanghai: spatiotemporal variation, source apportionment and impact on secondary formations of ozone and aerosol

Abstract. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have important impacts on air quality, atmospheric chemistry and human health. In order to identify the spatiotemporal variations, sources and ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation potentials of the atmospheric VOCs, a concurrent multi-site observation campaign was performed at the supersites of Shanghai, East China, in the first three months of 2019. The sampling sites are located at the different land-use types, including an industrial district (the Jinshan site: JS), residential and commercial mixed districts (the Pudong site: PD) and a background district (the Qingpu site: QP) of Shanghai. During the observation period, the average VOC concentrations were sensitive to the land-use types in the order of the JS (21.88 ± 12.58 ppb) > PD (21.36 ± 8.58 ppb) > QP (11.93 ± 6.33 ppb) sites. The predominant VOC category was alkanes (49.32 %–71.48 %), followed by aromatics (10.70 %–21.00 %), alkenes (10.13 %–15.30 %) and alkynes (7.69 %–14.80 %) at the studied sites. There were distinct diurnal variations and “weekend effects” of VOCs at the sampling sites. The VOC concentrations increased by 27.15 %, 32.85 % and 22.42 % during the haze events relative to the clean days. Vehicle exhaust was determined as the predominant VOC source. The second-largest VOC contributor was identified as industrial production at the JS and PD sites, while it proved to be fuel production and evaporation at the QP site. The industrial emission and biomass burning showed slight contributions to VOC concentrations at the QP and JS/PD sites, respectively. This was consistent with the regional characteristics of anthropogenic activities dominated by land-use types. High potential source contribution function (PSCF) values primarily appeared in the northeastern and northern areas surrounding sampling sites, suggesting strong local emissions. The ozone formation potential (OFP) values of each land-use type were in the order of the JS (50.89 ± 2.63 ppb) > PD (33.94 ± 1.52 ppb) > QP (24.26 ± 1.43 ppb) sites, with alkenes and aromatics being the predominant contributors. Secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP), mainly contributed by the aromatics, was highest at the JS site (1.00 ± 2.03 µg m−3), followed by the PD (0.46 ± 0.88 µg m−3) and QP (0.41 ± 0.58 µg m−3) sites. The VOC–PM2.5 sensitivity analysis showed that VOCs at the QP site displayed a more rapid increment along with the increase in PM2.5 values relative to the other two sites. Alkenes and aromatics are both the key concerns in controlling the VOC-related pollution of O3 and SOA in Shanghai. These findings provide more information on accurate air-quality control at a city level in China. The results shown herein highlight that the simultaneous multi-site measurements with the different land-use types in a megacity or city cluster could be more appropriate for fully understanding the VOC characteristics relative to a single-site measurement performed normally.

Can Digital Economy Development Contribute to the Low-Carbon Transition? Evidence from the City Level in China.

As a new engine to promote high-quality development and a sustainable economy, the digital economy (DE) plays a key role in achieving carbon reduction targets. In this paper, we use the "broadband China (BC)" policy as a proxy variable for the DE and employ the panel data of Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2006 to 2019 to investigate the effect of DE development on carbon emission intensity and its mechanism of action. It is found that (1) DE development significantly reduces the carbon emissions of cities and presents dynamic and sustainable characteristics; (2) the results of mechanism tests indicate that DE development is more inclined to reduce carbon emission intensity by improving regional innovation quality than by improving regional innovation quantity; (3) the impact of DE development on carbon emission intensity differs among cities with different characteristic attributes and different environmental regulation intensity, and the emission reduction effect is more obvious in non-resource-based cities, cities with lower environmental regulation intensity, and cities with weaker environmental target constraints; (4) the impact of DE development and innovation-driven development strategies on reducing carbon emission intensity has a policy linkage effect.

Spatial correlation network structure characteristics of carbon emission efficiency and its influencing factors at city level in China

Spatial correlation network structure characteristics of carbon emission efficiency and its influencing factors at city level in China

Spatio-Temporal Evolution Characteristics, Development Patterns, and Ecological Effects of “Production-Living-Ecological Space” at the City Level in China

Effective production, living, and ecological space allocation is essential for advancing territorial policy optimization and improving the sustainability of land resource use. Based on the theory of the “production-living-ecological” space (PLES), the present study uses the spatial transfer matrix model, the coupling degree model, and ecosystem service value measurement to analyze the changes in the number and structural characteristics of the PLES and the evolution pattern of development in 336 cities in China from 2000 to 2020 and to evaluate the resulting ecological effects. The results are as follows: the living space is growing; the agricultural production space is decreasing; and the ecological space has been decreasing and then increasing. The evolution of the city space structure has five distinct patterns of development. Cities in the southeast with high urbanization rates have shifted from the pure economic expansion development pattern to the coordinated diversified development pattern. In contrast, the cities in the northeast and northwest, where ecological space accounts for an absolute proportion, still prefer the economic expansion development pattern. There is still a struggle between the “impulse of local development” and the “objective of central coordination”. The development patterns of ecological protection and the coordinated diversified development patterns have higher ecological effects among the five development approaches, confirming the effectiveness of the territorial spatial planning policy under the coordinated development objective. Meanwhile, the optimization of future spatial planning policies should consider not only the rational allocation of space but also the quality development of space.

Assessing the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Vegetation Coverage in Urban Built-Up Areas

As the main carbon sink in the carbon cycle process, vegetation is an important support for achieving “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality. How does the vegetation coverage of urban built-up areas change in the process of urbanization in China? Taking advantage of Landsat remote sensing data, we extract urban built-up areas, calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), estimate fractional vegetation cover (FVC), and analyze the temporal and spatial dynamics of vegetation coverage in built-up areas of provincial capitals from the national and individual city levels in China. Major conclusions are as follows: (1) The FVC in the urban built-up areas has increased by 7.97%, and the urban green space has gradually changed from the “green core” distribution model to the “green vein” distribution mode. (2) The disparities in FVC of built-up areas of provincial capitals are notable, presumably due to a variety of factors that include the natural geographic environment, economic development level, built-up area expansion, land type conversion, afforestation of greening policy, etc. (3) Not just simply raise or lower, the FVC curves in the built-up areas of provincial capital cities present oscillating patterns with gradually weakening amplitude. Our study is expected to provide scientific references of an important theoretical basis for urban ecological construction and practical support for promoting the harmonious development of urban residents and urban environments in China.

Influences of temperature and humidity on cardiovascular disease among adults 65 years and older in China.

The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on the current aging society in China is substantial. Climate change, including extreme temperatures and humidity, has a detrimental influence on health. However, epidemiological studies have been unable to fully identify the association between climate change and CVD among older adults. Therefore, we investigated the associations between temperature and relative humidity and CVD among older adults in China. We used cohort data from the China Longitudinal Health and Longevity Survey (CLHLS) conducted in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018. A total of 39,278 Chinese adults 65 years and older participated in the analyses. The average annual temperatures and relative humidity during 2001 and 2017 (before the survey year) at the city level in China were used as the exposure measures. We selected patients with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke to create a sample of CVD patients. The associations between temperature and relative humidity and CVD were analyzed using the generalized estimation equation (GEE) model. Covariates included sociodemographic factors, health status, lifestyle, and cognitive function. The average annual temperature was negatively correlated with the prevalence of CVD. Every 1°C increase in the average annual temperature reduced the rates of hypertension by 3% [odds ratio (OR): 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96-0.97], heart disease by 6% (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.92-0.95), and stroke by 5% (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.94-0.97). The results of the analyses stratified by sex, urban/rural residence, and educational level were robust. The average annual relative humidity was inversely associated with the likelihood of CVD among older adults. Every 1% increase in the average annual relative humidity reduced the rates of hypertension by 0.4% (OR: 0.996; 95% CI: 0.99-1.00), heart disease by 0.6% (OR: 0.994; 95% CI: 0.99-1.00), and stroke by 0.08% (OR: 0.992; 95% CI: 0.98-1.00). However, the effects were more obvious with higher humidity levels (>70). Our findings suggest that higher temperatures and relative humidity may reduce the risk of CVD among older adults.

Racing to the bottom or the top? Strategic interaction of environmental protection expenditure among prefecture-level cities in China

Competition and cooperation in the environmental governance of cities are popular around the world. However, empirical research based on the prefecture-level city level in China is rare. Since the central government of China proposed to strengthen the construction of ecological civilization, whether there are strategic interactions of “race to the bottom” or “race to the top” among local governments is an important issue of academic and public interest. This paper constructs a game-theoretic model to reveal the strategic interactions of environmental governance among local governments. And then, based on the data of 221 prefecture-level cities collected from 2007 to 2018, the spatial econometric model is used to conduct multi-dimensional testing “race to the bottom” behavior of environmental protection expenditure among local governments. Moreover, this paper further analyses the impact of performance assessment indicators on the strategic interactions of local governments, so as to provide policy reference for improving environmental public welfare. Empirical results suggest that local governments in China show strategic imitation in environmental protection spending decisions, which is manifested as “race to the bottom”, and this behavior is gradually weakening with the strengthening of environmental protection assessment. Furthermore, environmental performance indicators relieve the government's strategic imitation, while economic performance indicators intensify the government's strategy imitation. Thus, reasonable performance evaluation indicators are conducive to benign strategic interaction among governments. Finally, the current environmental protection expenditure has not yet significantly affected pollution reduction, providing new evidence for the “race to the bottom” behavior of local governments. Based on the findings of our study, the central government should optimize the performance evaluation system of local officials and strengthen the implementation of the environmental supervision system and accountability mechanism. Meanwhile, the local governments should further increase environmental protection expenditure, and enhance the supervision and utilization efficiency of environmental protection funds.