Provincial Capitals Research Articles

Memberdayakan Rumah Tangga untuk Pengelolaan Sampah Berkelanjutan: Studi Kesadaran Masyarakat di Kota Semarang

Environmental sustainability issues, particularly related to the increasing amount of waste, have become a major concern in Semarang, the capital of Central Java Province. The generation of waste is influenced by low public awareness, economic growth, and the presence of urban centers, industries, and educational institutions. Semarang has recorded a high economic growth rate, even surpassing the national average, contributing to the rise in waste. Various initiatives have been undertaken by the local government, such as establishing waste banks and implementing paid plastic bags, yet the waste problem remains difficult to solve without household awareness, as they are the largest contributors. This study employs a mixed-methods approach in six urban villages, with 50 respondents from each. The findings indicate that public awareness regarding waste sorting from households is still low, despite its crucial role in reducing waste volume and supporting environmental sustainability. Women, due to their domestic roles, play a key part in waste sorting, but the active participation of all community members is essential for the success of sustainable waste management programs.Keywords : environmental sustainability, waste management, waste sorting, household awareness, Semarang

Spatio-temporal variations of energy carbon emissions in Xinjiang based on DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS nighttime light remote sensing data.

With the rapid economic development of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang), energy consumption became the primary source of carbon emissions. The growth trend in energy consumption and coal-dominated energy structure are unlikely to change significantly in the short term, meaning that carbon emissions are expected to continue rising. To clarify the changes in energy-related carbon emissions in Xinjiang over the past 15 years, this paper integrates DMSP/OLS and NPP/VIIRS data to generate long-term nighttime light remote sensing data from 2005 to 2020. The data is used to analyze the distribution characteristics of carbon emissions, spatial autocorrelation, frequency of changes, and the standard deviation ellipse. The results show that: (1) From 2005 to 2020, the total carbon emissions in Xinjiang continued to grow, with noticeable urban additions although the growth rate fluctuated. In spatial distribution, non-carbon emission areas were mainly located in the northwest; low-carbon emission areas mostly small and medium-sized towns; and high-carbon emission areas were concentrated around the provincial capital and urban agglomerations. (2) There were significant regional differences in carbon emissions, with clear spatial clustering of energy consumption. The clustering stabilized, showing distinct "high-high" and "low-low" patterns. (3) Carbon emissions in central urban areas remained stable, while higher frequencies of change were seen in the peripheral areas of provincial capitals and key cities. The center of carbon emissions shifted towards southeast but later showed a trend of moving northwest. (4) Temporal and spatial variations in carbon emissions were closely linked to energy consumption intensity, population size, and economic growth. These findings provided a basis for formulating differentiated carbon emission targets and strategies, optimizing energy structures, and promoting industrial transformation to achieve low-carbon economic development in Xinjiang.

Strengthening Collaborative Governance in the Department of Transportation: Implementation and Enforcement Levies

This article explores the strengthening of collaborative governance within Indonesia's Department of Transportation, focusing on the implementation and enforcement of levies. It highlights the integration of diverse stakeholders, including government bodies, private sector entities, and civil society, to create a more effective levy management system. However, a lack of collaboration between the Palembang city government and the local community has hindered the effectiveness of levies. Key strategies for improvement include promoting transparency, shared decision-making, and the use of innovative technologies. The study underscores the importance of trust and accountability among stakeholders to enhance compliance and enforcement. In Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra Province, transportation and traffic management challenges necessitate the effective implementation of levies. Employing a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, the research reveals that collaborative efforts between local governments, the private sector, and the community are essential, despite challenges such as limited resources and community resistance. The findings suggest that while collaborative governance can improve the effectiveness of levy enforcement, it requires commitment and active participation from all parties. Recommendations include enhancing human resource capacity, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and raising public awareness of the importance of levies for regional revenue. This study also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in improving infrastructure, fostering sustainable cities (SDG 11), and promoting effective partnerships (SDG 17).

Will Higher Education Development Influence the Escape from the Middle-income Trap? Insights from Northeast China

This article constructs an index model of higher education development from the 2020 data of 34 prefecture-level cities in Northeast China. GeoDetector was used to find the explanatory power of higher education for economic growth. The stronger the explanatory power, the greater its effect on enabling a city to move beyond the middle-income stage. The results indicated that economically developed cities had advanced levels of higher education development. The development level of higher education in provincial capitals and sub-provincial cities is among the highest in Northeast China. Furthermore, higher education significantly explains economic growth, with the scale of education having a stronger explanatory power than the quality of education. In addition, regional heterogeneity exists in the explanatory power of the scale and quality of education on economic growth. Specifically, the effect of the scale of higher education on economic growth is significantly greater than the quality of higher education in large cities. In contrast, the opposite is true in medium-sized cities. For small cities, the effect of higher education on economic growth is minimal. JEL Classification O11

Land Transformations in Irpinia (Southern Italy): A Tale on the Socio-Economic Dynamics Acting in a Marginal Area of the Mediterranean Europe

Marginal areas in economically advanced countries are a critical issue that European and national policies have been addressing for some time. These areas are affected by depopulation, infrastructural gaps and labor systems that do not reach the corresponding national levels and where often agriculture still plays a critical role. In Italy, despite the fact that the National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI) has been active for about a decade with the aim of increasing the territorial cohesion of these fragile areas, rather limited results have been achieved in terms of halting economic marginalization and demographic decline. In this specific context, our work is aimed at analyzing land use changes, the loss of ecosystem services and demographic trends in a Mediterranean region (Irpinia—Southern Italy) on district and municipal scales in the last 30 years (1990–2018) to capture current, subtle socio-economic dynamics. The analysis carried out has indicated a substantial increase in urban areas due to the development of new industrial areas and discontinuous urban fabric (urban sprawl) at the expense of natural areas (mainly meadows and shrublands). The agricultural areas have remained substantially unchanged in terms of extension, with a slight increase in heterogeneous agricultural areas and an expansion of high-value crops (vineyards), that are the most suitable for multifunctional agriculture activities (experiential and rural tourism). The analysis of the demographic trend has highlighted a widespread phenomenon of depopulation, with the exception of those municipalities who economically orbit around the provincial capital of Avellino. The municipalities in depopulation are mostly located in the inner areas characterized by a more rugged morphology and infrastructural gaps. Unexpectedly, most of municipalities show a significant anticorrelation among the population and agricultural areas which is an indicator of social and economic phenomena as complex as they are underestimated. As a final step, this analysis highlights also a loss of carbon storage mainly attributable to the soil sealing of large areas. This study can help to comprehensively understand the conditions of marginal areas in Mediterranean Europe over recent decades in the light of the main socio-economic dynamics to better direct efforts towards the containment of the human capital hemorrhage, consisting of persistently negative natural and migratory rates, and the sustainable empowerment of these geo-economic peripheries.

Efficiency of Built-up Land Use on the Socio-Economic Conditions of Cities: Case Study of Bandar Lampung City

Dynamic city development has an impact on land consumption levels, as an effort to increase city capacity, so this is not a sustainable option both socially and economically. As one of the provincial capitals on the island of Sumatra and the city closest to the island of Java, the city of Bandar Lampung certainly experiences the same demands regarding the use of built-up land. In identifying these conditions, this article uses a decoupling analysis method of built-up land area, population and local revenue. This research uses NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-Up Index) to describe built-up land, population and LGR (Local Government Revenue) to describe the social and economic conditions of Bandar Lampung City. The results of the NDBI analysis from 2014 to 2022 show that built-up land in Bandar Lampung City has reached 61.67%. In the same period, the city's population increased by an average of 6.01% and Bandar Lampung City's LGR increased by an average of 13.55% in 2022 amounting to IDR 645 billion. In the decoupling analysis of built-up land to population, Bandar Lampung City has an expansive negative decoupling category, so there are indications that the growth of built-up land is not adjusting to the number of residents to be accommodated. In the decoupling analysis of built-up land against PAD, the decoupling index falls into the Expansive coupling category, which means that built-up land and PAD have increased, but the growth of built-up land is higher than the PAD of Bandar Lampung City. In both conditions, it shows that population growth and local income of Bandar Lampung City is still below the growth of built-up land, so it is indicated that the growth of built-up land in Bandar Lampung City is less efficient.

Rethinking the Tactile Paving Installation System Based on the City Rhythm of Visually Impaired Pedestrians in Urban Networks

This study was conducted in Bandung, the provincial capital of West Java, to reevaluate the tactile paving installation system based on the movement patterns of visually impaired pedestrians in urban networks. Given the rising global prevalence of low vision and blindness, creating inclusive urban environments has become a critical health and social issue. The research aimed to address the gap in accessibility by focusing on how tactile paving can better align with the daily rhythms and needs of visually impaired individuals. Data collection involved interviews, and data analysis utilized a mixed-methods approach. Findings revealed that the movement patterns of visually impaired pedestrians are intricately connected to their essential activities. The study concludes that a hierarchical approach to tactile paving installation can improve efficiency, particularly in cities with limited funding, thus promoting broader and more effective development of inclusive urban networks. These insights are valuable for both immediate facility improvements and future transit-oriented development planning.

Current status of professional memory clinics, inpatient services, and health professionals in China.

This study aims to explore the current status of dementia-specific diagnosis and treatment in China. This national survey was conducted in mainland China from September 2022 to February 2023, with strong support from the Cognitive Disorders Group of the Chinese Society of Neurology, Chinese Medical Association. Among 2721 hospitals surveyed, 244 (8.97%) have dementia-specific clinics (DSCs) and 166 (6.10%) have dementia-specific inpatient departments (DSIDs). Almost all hospitals have brain structural imaging capabilities and basic hematological examinations, but dementia-specific medical staff (DSMS) equipped for DSCs or DSIDs are rare. The proportion of patients with cognitive impairment receiving care through a DSCs or DSIDs is low, and most patients present with advanced (moderate to severe) disease. The survey shows that the proportion of DSCs and DSIDs is low, and the regional distribution varies significantly. Trained DSMS and specialized facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia are inadequate. This study was a multi-center national research to comprehensively investigate the distribution and features of dementia-specific clinics and inpatient departments in mainland China, given that the limited literature was available regarding the dementia-specific centers. The study points to significant regional differences in the distribution of cognitive-specific clinics and inpatient departments in mainland China. More centers in Eastern Regions compared to Western Regions, a greater presence in provincial capitals as opposed to other cities, and a predominance of tertiary hospitals over non-tertiary ones. The aim is to provide data support for advancements in medical research within this field. Domestic dementia patients have inadequate access to specialized medical resources and expert assistance, which significantly contrasts with the growing number of dementia cases in China.

Promotion Effects of High-Speed Rail on Urban Development: Evidence from Three Lines in China

Amid the vigorous development of the high-speed rail (HSR) network, local governments in China generally consider the construction of HSR as a crucial task in their regional development strategies. Currently, most provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities in the eastern and central regions of China already have operational HSR services. This study aims to examine a key question: has the objective of local governments to promote urban development through the construction of HSR been effective? The research selects cities along the Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Guangzhou, and Harbin–Dalian HSR lines as the study subjects. Based on the principles of proximity and similarity, cities with operational HSR and those without are chosen as the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Following the double difference (difference-in-differences) approach, an advantage index is proposed to systematically evaluate the impact of HSR operation on urban development from three dimensions: population aggregation, economic development, and expansion of construction land. Furthermore, the evaluation results are systematically clustered to identify city types that exhibit different promotional effects in various dimensions. The research findings indicate the following: (1) The promotion effect of HSR on the development of small to medium-sized cities is more reflected in economic growth and construction land growth. (2) The promotion effect of HSR on the development of large cities is more reflected in the growth of the employment population. (3) For smaller or economically less-developed cities, HSR may be detrimental to the aggregation of resident and employment populations. (4) Cities with moderate size and good economic development have the opportunity to use HSR to promote population aggregation. On this basis, combined with the findings above, strategies to promote the coordinated development of high-speed rail construction and urban systems are discussed.

Competencies needed for public health workforce in the programs of Iran's health transformation plan: A descriptive study based on programs, operations, and competencies chain.

The public health workforce faces a wide range of challenges related to people's health. Thus, they need a combination of different professional skills and competencies to perform essential public health operations and provide services to people. The present study was conducted to determine the competencies needed for the public health workforce to implement health transformation plan programs at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in the capital of Khuzestan province in Iran. This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2020 among 51 managers and experts of the health deputy and faculty members of the public health school. STROBE guideline was used for the present study. The research tools were two researcher-made questionnaires based on the chain of Programs, Operations, and Competencies (POC). Additionally, the validity and reliability of the questionnaires were checked. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was equal to 0.87 for the first questionnaire (programs-operations) and 0.85 for the second questionnaire (operations-competencies). The operations of surveillance of population health and well-being, monitoring and responding to health hazards and emergencies, and disease prevention, including early detection of illness, obtained the highest mean total score (3.9 (95% CI: 3.6 to 4.2)). Respect for and adherence to ethical principles and confidentiality in any professional activity obtained the highest mean total score (4.0 (95% CI: 3.7 to 4.3)) among the needed competencies. To properly implement public health programs, managers must plan and take necessary measures to improve such operations as surveillance of population health and well-being, monitoring and responding to health hazards and emergencies, disease prevention (including early detection of illness), and promotion of the workforce competencies in the field of respect for and adherence to ethical principles and confidentiality in any professional activity.

Correlates of Exercise Behavior Based on Socio-Ecological Theoretical Model among Chinese Urban Adults: An Empirical Study.

Identifying the correlates of exercise behavior is essential to combating physical inactivity as a public health concern. The purpose of this study is to identify the correlates of physical activity among urban Chinese adults under the social-ecological theoretical model in order to facilitate targeted interventions to promote physical activity. Using the socio-ecological model, we conducted a questionnaire survey among 1459 urban residents in Zhejiang and Shaanxi provinces of China, collecting data on individual demographic factors, sociological factors, environmental perception, and exercise behavior. Binary logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationships between exercise behavior and socio-ecological factors. Male gender (p < 0.01), advanced age (p < 0.001), higher education level (p < 0.05), living independently from parents (p < 0.05), absence of childcare responsibilities (p < 0.01), residence in a county/prefecture-level city (p < 0.001), favorable neighborhood esthetics (p < 0.001), available greenways/parks (p < 0.001), and family support for exercise participation (p < 0.05) were significantly correlated with an increased likelihood of participating in physical activity. Male gender (p < 0.001), advanced age (p < 0.001), absence of childcare responsibilities (p < 0.05), good neighborhood vegetation (p < 0.01), availability of free neighborhood exercise facilities (p < 0.05), and support from friends for exercise participation (p < 0.01) were significantly correlated with an increased likelihood of engaging in physical activity for more than 150 min per week. BMI, community air quality, traffic safety, public safety, and level of social development were not major correlates. To promote exercise behavior, more attention should be paid to individuals who are female, young, have lower levels of education, bear childcare responsibilities, or reside in provincial capitals in China. Improving the habitat environment and providing convenient and affordable facilities should also be considered. Furthermore, support from family and friends can positively reinforce exercise behavior.

Auto-Immune Diseases, Head and Neck Trauma, and Smoking Are Strong Predictors of Multiple Sclerosis.

Several health, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors have been separately linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) by different studies. However, these studies did not adequately account for the temporal association of these factors with MS while considering the influence of other variables in the analysis. A comprehensive investigation of these factors remains scarce. A hospital-based case-control study was carried out between Jun 2020 to Mar 2021 on 525 cases and 1050 controls frequently matched by age and sex. Cases and controls were selected at the same time and from the same centers (Motahari and Imam Reza referral centers) in Shiraz (the capital of Fars Province). Health, socio-demographic, and lifestyle status during adolescence were studied in this case-control study. The likelihood of having a history of autoimmune disease(s) (ORyes/no=15.67, P<0.001) and family history of MS (ORyes/no=11.57, P<0.001) were higher in cases. In addition, the likelihoods of reporting a history of head/neck traumas (ORhaving a history/no history=9.16, P<0.001), smoking (ORregular/other =2.24, P=0.008), and stressful events (ORyes/no=1.47, P=0.007) were higher among the case group. On the other hand, the odds of sun exposure (ORmost the time/seldom =0.14, P<0.001), physical activity (ORactive/inactive=0.45, P<0.001), and good quality sleep (OR=0.93, P<0.001) were significantly lower in the case group. This study provided a broad picture of the factors associated with MS, most of which were modifiable. Positive alterations to these factors through social and health educational programs are likely to reduce the burden of MS in Iran.

The Central Functions of Cities in Poland in Light of Administrative Reform

The aim of this article is to determine and assess the changes in the central functions of major Polish cities in the context of Poland’s 1999 administrative reform. This study covers a period of twenty-two years (1998–2019), which provides a solid perspective for evaluating the functional changes occurring within the current territorial division of the country. The conclusions indicate that the dynamics of changes in central functions in former provincial capitals differed from those in cities that retained this status. At the same time, it was found that the administrative reform sanctioned the scope and scale of earlier socio-economic dependencies in the present regional centers. The research results suggest that administrative reforms in Poland solidified existing socio-economic development paths in cities, but were not the sole catalyst for change. They point to a complex interaction of factors influencing urban evolution. By utilizing indicators that measure the centrality of cities in relation to their demographic potential, this research offers a quantitative assessment of the level of development of central functions, which is crucial for monitoring progress towards sustainable urbanization. By providing this information, this research also contributes to a broader discussion on the advancement and dynamics of sustainable urban development.

Effects of the Western Pacific Subtropical High on the urban heat island characteristics in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are frequently affected by the Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) in summer. This leads to phenomena including air subsidence, high temperatures, low rainfall, and weak winds, all of which affect the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Currently, there are few studies on the influence of WPSH on the UHI effect. In this study, we analysed the temporal and spatial distributions of the influence of WPSH on the UHI effect by establishing two scenarios: with and without WPSH. We calculated the UHI intensity and the urban heat island proportion index (UHPI) to analyse the temporal and spatial distributions of the UHI effect. The geographical detector method was then used to analyse the factors influencing UHI. The results indicate the strong heat island effect during the day in provincial capitals and some developed cities. The area of high UHI intensity was larger under the influence of WPSH than in the years without WPSH. WPSH affected UHPI at both day and night, although the effect was more pronounced at night. The factors affecting daytime UHI intensity are mainly POP and NTL, O3 plays a large role in the years with WPSH control. The main factors affecting the UHI intensity at night are AOD, POP and NTL were mainly factors in the years without WPSH control, POP and WPSH were mainly factors in the years with WPSH control. The interactions of the factors are mainly POP and multi-factors during the daytime, and DEM and multi-factors during the nighttime. It was found that the UHI intensity was enhanced under the control of the WPSH, and the influencing factors of the diurnal UHI differed with and without the WPSH control, which ultimately provides realistic suggestions for mitigating the intensity of the UHI in areas affected by the WPSH.

Population Distribution in Guizhou’s Mountainous Cities: Evolution of Spatial Pattern and Driving Factors

Guizhou is a typical mountainous province and is also one of the lowland regions in China that has attracted a population influx. Here, using population density data from 2000 to 2020 as the basic dataset and the coefficient of variation method and standard deviation ellipse analysis, we investigated the spatial characteristics across different years. The results show: Firstly, Guizhou’s population has a distinct spatial distribution, characterized by a lower population density in the southeast and a higher density in the northwest as well as an increasing polarization of population concentration toward the centers of prefecture-level cities and provincial capitals. Fluctuations in population density resemble a central siphon effect, which is particularly pronounced in the provincial capital and show a significant gravitational pull. Secondly, the coefficient of variation in population density across Guizhou’s counties is spatially divided by Guiyang, showing higher values in the east and lower values in the west. Furthermore, the ellipse of the standard deviation of population density is gradually shrinking, indicating an increasingly concentrated population distribution. Thirdly, the explanatory power of the population and socio-economic systems on the population distribution in Guizhou is significantly greater than that of the natural systems. Population distribution and migration patterns have shifted from purely “economic driven” to coexisting with “economic and comfort-oriented” trends, and there is an urgent need to improve the comfort level of public services as a typical supply, in order to boost Guizhou’s population attraction.

Empowering communities to use healthy lifestyle centres: an implementation research from Sri Lanka

ObjectiveHealthy lifestyle centres (HLCs), a state service that screens for major non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors and promotes lifestyle modifications in Sri Lanka, report underutilisation. The study aimed to assess...

Use of the florence factor in the process of identifying an Industrial City for the analysis of the marketing strategy of a settlement unit

Research objective: The study aims to find a method of identifying an industrial city and analyzing its marketing strategy. It considers the role of manufacturing enterprises and their influence on an industrial city's image and brand and analyses the theoretical relationship for the marketing strategy of a settlement unit. Methodology: The study used a quantitative research method, using the Florence index survey technique, etic orientation. Data from the Central Statistical Office for 230 cities that are not provincial capitals were analyzed. A survey method was used to confirm the results obtained - the research tool is a specially constructed survey questionnaire. Main conclusions: An industrial city is a city where the majority of residents work in industry, the main GDP comes from industry, and this characteristic is dominant in the opinion of the residents. An industrial city is a city where at least 50% of residents indicate industry as the dominant characteristic, while the second most indicated characteristic does not account for more than 25% of respondents. The validity of using the Florence coefficient in identifying an industrial city has been confirmed in empirical studies. Application of the study: An industrial city is a city in which the majority of inhabitants work in industry, the main GDP comes from industry and this character is dominant in the opinion of the inhabitants. An industrial city is a city in which a minimum of 50% of the inhabitants indicate industrialism as the dominant character, while the other character of the city is not indicated by a total of more than 25% of the surveyed respondents. The validity of using the Florence coefficient in identifying an industrial city has been confirmed in empirical studies. Originality/Novelty of the study: The literature on the subject does not address the impact of manufacturing cities on the image and brand of the city. The use of the proposed statistical tool represents a breakthrough in the initial identification of the city's character. Thanks to it, it is possible to adapt the marketing strategy of a territory to real evolutionary changes. This will highlight the qualities valued and formed in the opinions of stakeholders, the most valuable of which will be highlighted.

Fiscal expenditure efficiency of China's coal to clean heating policy

Government subsidies are the backbone of the large-scale Coal to Clean Heating Policy launched in China in 2017. We analyze data from 27 pilot cities from 2017 to 2019. We use a slacks-based measure model with undesirable outputs to evaluate the optimal design of central and local government subsidies under the policy. While the overall efficiency is high, provincial capitals and cities with lower economic development levels show less efficiency. Our findings suggest that distributing central government subsidies based solely on administrative levels is not the best way to achieve perfect efficiency. Additionally, perfect efficiency at the city level may take years to achieve. A sweeping phase-out of government subsidies could lead to undesirable policy outcomes. Content analysis of normative documents from the six best-performing cities and six least efficient cities indicates that better-formulated legal and policy documents may contribute to higher efficiency. As lessons for designing and evaluating large-scale energy policies, we recommend considering 17 factors that could impact subsidy efficiency. We also suggest implementing a progressive phase-out schedule as a measure of policy efficiency and identifying factors that could ensure the long-term success of nationally implemented government subsidies.

Decoupling Analysis between Socio-Economic Growth and Air Pollution in Key Regions of China

The coordinated development of atmospheric pollution and socio-economic growth plays a core role in the sustainable development of cities and regions. The relationship between socio-economic growth and air pollution can be described using decoupling analysis. The seven key regions of China (168 cities), including Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and its surrounding areas (BTHSR), the Yangtze River Delta region (YRDR), the Fen-Wei Plain (FWP), the Chengdu–Chongqing region (CCR), the urban agglomeration of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR), the Pearl River Delta region (PRDR), and other provincial capitals and municipalities with specialized plans (OPCCSP) were taken as targets to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of AQI values and PM2.5 concentrations from 2014 to 2022. Then, the decoupling relationship between the AQI/PM2.5 and the socio-economic growth index (SEGI) in these key regions was deeply researched by the Tapio decoupling model. The main results were as follows: (1) Although the continuous improvement in air quality was observed in these seven key regions in China, the PM2.5 concentration in the BTHSR and FWP was still higher than 35 μg·m−3. The AQI showed a spatial pattern of high in the north and low in the south, and the distribution of PM2.5 in China was high in the east and low in the west. (2) The decoupling degree between air pollution and socio-economic growth was relatively high in the PRDR and YRDR. In contrast, the degree of decoupling was poor in the FWP and OPCCSP. The decoupling states were primarily influenced by industrial structure, energy consumption, and urbanization. (3) The decoupling of air pollution from socio-economic growth was in a strong decoupling state throughout the majority of the study period, achieving a comparatively ideal decoupling state in 2018. However, the overall decoupling states of the seven regions were not sustainable, and the decoupling stability was relatively poor. During the research period, the decoupling state between socio-economic growth and air pollution changed and was unstable.

중국 환경보호정책의 효과성 분석: 시(市) 단위 패널자료를 중심으로

This study explores the effect of China's environmental protection policies on environmental pollution. In order to investigate the actual effect of environmental policies implemented in 31 provincial capitals of China and explore the relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth, panel analysis was carried out. The Panel's analysis shows that environmental policies can reduce pollution levels and economic growth can increase pollution levels. These results suggest that China should strengthen its environmental protection policy in the future. For example, in the field of industry, the focus is on upgrading governance equipment and technology, and strengthening supervision and punishment. In terms of transportation, strict emission standards are established, public transportation and new energy tools are developed, and path planning is optimized. In the economic field, preferential policies should be adopted to promote green industries and eliminate industries with serious pollution. Urban planning should be rationalized and green areas should be increased. At the same time, raise awareness of environmental protection and encourage the public to participate in environmental protection activities.