Zone Policy Research Articles

A Review of Policy Progress in China's Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zone

Under the background of increasing urbanization rate and global warming, China urgently needs to address the issue of promoting economic growth while reducing the intensity of carbon emissions to achieve harmony between economic growth and environmental protection and promote sustainable development. This study takes China's ecological civilization demonstration areas construction policy as the main object of analysis. The literature review method would summarize the specific pathways of this policy to achieve carbon emission reduction in terms of eco-economy and eco-institution. By classifying and analyzing its existing carbon reduction pathways, this study found that reforms and innovations were made in this policy, mainly in eco-economy and eco-institution. China's Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zones (ECDZs) policy, to achieve carbon emission reduction and carbon neutrality, has used both green technological innovation and economic reforms to upgrade the industrial structure and improve the energy structure. However, the above policies are broad and cannot meet the regional differences. Therefore, this paper gives the corresponding recommendations: to increase the support of financial and financing policies, optimize the energy infrastructure in urban areas, and develop green transport and green buildings.

Harmonizing Digital Trade for Sustainable Stride: Unveiling the Industrial Pollution Reduction Effect of China's Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zones

As a key export-oriented economy, China faces significant challenges to its green economic development due to industrial pollution. While digital trade is crucial for sustainable development, its impact on industrial pollution has not been studied. This paper addresses this gap by adopting prefecture-level data from 2005 to 2021 and using a staggered difference-in-differences model to assess the impact of comprehensive pilot zones policy of cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) on industrial sulfur dioxide pollution. The findings indicate that CBEC significantly reduces industrial sulfur dioxide emission intensity, with the effect growing stronger over time. The effect is particularly notable in eastern and western regions, large cities, cities with underdeveloped digital infrastructure, and cities with lower pollution. Mechanism analysis reveals that CBEC lowers industrial emission intensity by driving structure upgrading, fostering green innovation, and advancing digital transformation. This paper emphasizes that the government can expedite the green transformation of the economy by integrating digital trade with industry.

Towards Predictive Pollution Control Through Traffic Flux Forecasting With Deep Learning: A Case Study in the City of Valencia

ABSTRACTTraffic congestion represents a significant urban challenge, with notable implications for public health and environmental well‐being. Consequently, urban decision‐makers prioritize the mitigation of congestion. This study delves into the efficacy of harnessing extensive data on urban traffic dynamics, coupled with comprehensive knowledge of road networks, to enable Artificial Intelligence (AI) in forecasting traffic flux well in advance. Such forecasts hold promise for informing emission reduction measures, particularly those aligned with Low Emission Zone policies. The investigation centers on Valencia, leveraging its robust traffic sensor infrastructure, one of the most densely deployed worldwide, encompassing approximately 3500 sensors strategically positioned across the city. Employing historical data spanning 2016 and 2017, we undertake the task of training and characterizing a Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network for the prediction of temporal traffic patterns. Our findings demonstrate the LSTM's efficacy in real‐time forecasting of traffic flow evolution, facilitated by its ability to discern salient patterns within the dataset.

Evaluation of School Zoning Policy in Improving Accessibility and Quality of Education in Sidoarjo Regency

This research aims to evaluate the zoning system of education implemented by the Sidoarjo Regency government to accept students who live within the closest radius of the school. The zoning policy aims to provide equal opportunities for every child to receive quality education. This research employs a qualitative method, with data collection through interviews and documentation. The results show that State Junior High School (SJHS) 1 Krian and State Junior High School 2 Wonoayu meet the indicators of effectiveness, adequacy, and accuracy in the zoning policy, but do not meet the indicators of equity and responsiveness. The indicators of accessibility and quality of education indicate that adequacy, responsiveness, and accuracy are appropriate, while effectiveness and equity are still lacking. The education program is still in the adjustment process, which means that access for children with special needs is not yet optimal. Although the zoning policy has successfully improved accessibility and quality of education in both schools, there are still shortcomings due to parents' lack of understanding of this policy. Therefore, more in-depth education is needed to enhance public understanding of the zoning system.

Has the Policy of National Agricultural Green Development Pilot Zones Enhanced the Agricultural Eco-Efficiency? Observation Based on the County-Level Data from Hubei Province of China

China’s agricultural green development is of great significance to protecting the ecological environment, ensuring food security, and promoting rural revitalization. This study considers China’s agricultural green development pilot zones policy as a natural experiment to examine its impact on regional agricultural eco-efficiency. Based on county-level data in Hubei Province from 2013 to 2021, the EBM-Undesirable model was employed to measure regional agricultural eco-efficiency. Then, the staggered DID model was conducted to estimate the policy impact. The results indicate that the pilot zones policy significantly enhances the agricultural eco-efficiency in the designated areas. The results from heterogeneity and mechanism analysis indicate that the pilot zones policy has a more substantial effect on the western region and less-affluent counties, and rural innovation serves as an intermediary variable for the policy to exert the “green” effect. Therefore, it is crucial for the government to consider regional disparities and the role of rural innovation when advancing policy implementation. Tailoring measures to suit specific local circumstances and consistently enhancing agricultural eco-efficiency in different regions is essential.

Digital Economy and Urban Carbon Emissions: A Quasi-Natural Experiment of the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone in China

In this study, we assess the impact of digital economy development on urban carbon emissions using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach based on the quasi-natural experiment of the national big data comprehensive pilot zone (NBDCPZ) policy and panel data from 168 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2019. We find that the establishment of NBDCPZ has a significant carbon emission reduction effect. This finding is robust to various sensitivity tests. Further mechanism validation illustrates that the construction of NBDCPZ promotes the regional digital development level and reduces urban carbon emissions through three channels: improving energy efficiency to optimize energy consumption, increasing green total factor productivity, and promoting the clustering of high-tech industries. The heterogeneity analysis concludes that the carbon emission reduction effect of NBDCPZ policy varies with different regional locations and different city characteristics. Moreover, using spatial models, we find that the positive impact is characterized by spatial spillover effect. The findings provide detailed empirical evidence to formulate urban development strategies for enabling carbon reduction of the digital economy. JEL Classification: O30, Q53, Q55, Q58, R10

Do enhanced school zone policies improve pedestrians' safety? A deep learning-based case study of Osan City, South Korea

This study investigates the effectiveness of strengthened penalty policies in South Korean school zones by analyzing the changes in road users' behaviors, focusing on pedestrian-vehicle interactions. This study employed three surrogate safety measurements: vehicle speed, Pedestrian Safety Margins (PSM), and Predicted Collision Risk (PCR) level. The comprehensive analysis covers a spectrum of behaviors, from simple to complex, assessing the policy's impact in urban environments. The findings reveal several important insights. First, the policy enforcement resulted in a positive impact on vehicle speeds, with average speeds aligning with posted speed limits. Second, an increase was observed in yielding behaviors, particularly in school zones. However, much of this behavior appeared to be cosmetic, emphasizing the need for more safety-oriented yielding practices. Finally, the policy enforcement had a mixed impact on PCR levels, with a reduction in danger levels in school zones, yet an unexpected increase in danger levels in non-school zones. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of strengthened penalty policies in school zones, particularly the development of a safe and sustainable urban environment.

Do China's ecological civilization advance demonstration zones inhibit fisheries' carbon emission intensity? A quasi-natural experiment using double machine learning and spatial difference-in-differences

China's National Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zone (NECDZ) policy has a significant role in ensuring national ecological security, and it is essential to investigate how the NECDZ policy affects the carbon emissions intensity of fisheries (CEIF) to advance China's commitment to reducing carbon emissions. This study evaluates the CEIF in 30 Chinese provinces from 2007 to 2021 using ecological civilization demonstration areas as a quasi-natural experiment and double machine learning (DML)to examine the impact and internal mechanisms of NECDZ implementation on the CEIF. We also explore spatial spillover effects using a spatial difference-in-differences approach. The results reveal that NECDZ implementation has a significantly negative impact on the CEIF and this effect continues over time. NECDZ policy potentially affects the CEIF through technology development, industrial structure improvement, and reduced energy consumption. Further investigation reveals that NECDZ implementation has spillover effects and inhibits the CEIF in surrounding regions. Therefore, it is essential to focus on developing the NECDZ policy to enhance fisheries' industrial structure, encourage low-carbon innovation in fishery technologies, and increase energy consumption efficiency. This could be supported by facilitating exchanges and cooperation with other areas, considering regional disparities, and assigning common but distinct responsibility for reducing the CEIF.

Impact of the regional financial reform on corporate financialization: Evidence from China

This study employs the data of Chinese A–share listed companies from 2007 to 2022, considers the implementation of the regional financial reform pilot zone policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and tests the impact of this reform on the financial asset holdings of nonfinancial firms by using a difference-in-difference model. Based on the findings, the regional financial reform restrains the financialization of nonfinancial firms through two paths: 1) promoting profit equalization, which reduces the return gap between real and financial investments; and 2) balancing the allocation of credit resources, which curbs corporate participation in shadow banking. Further analysis showed that the governance effect of the regional financial reform is especially prominent for firms in regions with lower administrative, market development, and financial development levels, especially in the central and western regions. In the economic consequences test, we found that the dampening effect of the regional financial reform on corporate financialization can promote real investments, especially innovation investments. These findings not only enrich the research on the determinants of corporate financialization and the economic consequences of the regional financial reform, but they also provide insights for financial reforms in other emerging economies.

The impact of China’s big data pilot zone policy on public service quality: a mixed methods study

ABSTRACT The digital transformation of public service delivery is an important trend in the digital era; however, whether and how digital policy can improve public service quality (PSQ) remain unclear. Moreover, most studies on China’s big data pilot zone (BDPZ) digital policy have focused on economic and environmental aspects, with less attention given to its social impacts. This research designed a mixed methods study through DID and semi-structured interviews to analyse the relationship between the BDPZ digital policy and PSQ. This study proved that the BDPZ digital policy can significantlfy improve PSQ and that there are mediating effects through technology innovation and digital governance. Moreover, the technology innovation effect was due to the BDPZ policy making public service data more standardized, clear and traceable, and the digital governance effect was based on the linking mechanism and integrating mechanism. This study reveals the social impacts of the BDPZ policy and explains why technology innovation and digital governance are essential for improving public service quality.

Environmental policies as engines for tourism eco-efficiency: quasi-experimental evidence

Determining the actual effectiveness of environmental policies is paramount for enhancing tourism eco-efficiency. However, few studies have systematically investigated the specific effects of such policies on tourism eco-efficiency. We utilize the slack-based measure data envelopment analysis model to assess tourism eco-efficiency across 30 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2021. We delve into the environmental policy of China’s Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone, scrutinizing its institutional background and assessing its ramifications for tourism eco-efficiency within the framework of the “Driving forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response” framework and institutional theory. Moreover, we empirically explore the causal link between this policy and tourism eco- efficiency by adopting the synthetic control and difference-in-differences approaches. Our findings indicate that the implementation of the National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone policy has led to a 5.16% average enhancement in tourism eco-efficiency. Although significant improvements were observed in Fujian, Jiangxi, and Yunnan, Qinghai experienced a decline, as indicated by the synthetic control method. Furthermore, the impact extends spatially, manifesting both at the local level and as spatial spillover effects on the eco-efficiency of tourism in neighboring regions. These results confirm the policy’s effectiveness and highlight the need for devoting increased attention to economically slower-developing regions in sustainable tourism development.

Platform advantages or "policy trap" for neighbors? Export effects of establishing free trade zone in China: A quasi-natural experiment

As the important regional policy arrangements for China to implement a new round of opening-up strategy, the free trade zone (FTZ) policy have significant impacts on export trade. Based on the quasi-natural experiment of China's establishment of FTZs, the article evaluates the impact of the FTZs on enterprises' exports by using export data from Chinese Customs database and statistics of prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2018. The analyses found that the FTZs has significantly promoted local exports. The FTZs has negative spatial externalities on export activities, which reduces the export performance of neighboring cities. The export effects of FTZs present continuous and dynamic characteristics. There is heterogeneity in the marginal impact of FTZs in different locations on the exports of enterprise. These findings provide empirical evidence for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the establishment of FTZs on enterprises' exports in the spatial dimension.

Impact of carbon emission trading on urban green innovation: empirical evidence from China’s carbon emission trading pilot policy

In the face of global climate change challenges, China’s implementation of the carbon emission trading (CET) pilot policy has provided new empirical research opportunities. Based on a dataset covering 281 Chinese cities from 2005 to 2021, this paper employs econometric models to conduct an in-depth analysis of the policy’s impact on urban green innovation (UGI). The findings indicate that the CET pilot policy has significantly promoted green innovation activities in affected cities, with positive effects observed both directly in pilot cities and indirectly in non-pilot cities through spatial spillover effects. In addition, the policy has been found to encourage technological investment and enhance public environmental awareness (PEA), further advancing green innovation. The paper also unveils comprehensive policy effects, indicating that the Big Data Comprehensive Test Zone policy and the New Energy Demonstration City policy work synergistically with the CET pilot policy in advancing green innovation. These findings provide valuable experiences and insights for designing environmental policy tools at the national level, promoting green development, and constructing climate change response strategies.

The Impact of Implementing School Zoning Policy on Inequality of Access to Education at the Junior High School Level

The Indonesian government has implemented a school zoning policy to address the gap in access for students from poor economic backgrounds. However, in reality, the implementation of the policy has not made it easier for students from poor economic backgrounds. There is a need for this study because there is a gap between theory, expectations, and reality in the field. The purpose of the study was to analyze the impact of the school zoning policy on access for students from poor economic backgrounds to junior high schools. The research method used was a mixed method. The subjects of the study were junior high school students with a population of nine regions totaling 5,000 students from poor economic backgrounds and a sample of 850. Data collection techniques used surveys, observations, interviews, and documentation. Survey analysis techniques with descriptive statistics using SPSS Version 25.0 by assessing the mean, percentage, and standard deviation. Qualitative data analysis reduced the data and allowed the researchers to draw conclusions by comparing it with the results of quantitative data. The results of the study were that the school zoning policy in Indonesia is effective in reducing the gap in access for students from poor economic backgrounds in public junior high schools so that the distribution of students between schools becomes more even. However, there was a negative impact on some students from poor economic backgrounds if zoning access was limited. In conclusion, the school zoning policy can distribute students evenly between schools but most poor students cannot access public schools. Recommendations are made for research to be conducted by involving the government in a broader study.

Spatial norms as traversable and gendered: A study of parental experiences of no-kids zones in South Korea

This study examines the emergent yet understudied cultural phenomenon of ‘no-kids zones’ in South Korea, a business policy in commercial establishments prohibiting children and their caregivers from entering its premises. Drawing on 32 in-depth interviews of mothers and fathers with active caregiving responsibilities for young children, we examine the impact of the no-kids zone policies on parents’ everyday childcare experiences in urban consumption spaces. We argue that the rise of no-kids zones, indicative of a lack of social ethos of care, has further intensified unwelcoming sentiments towards children and parents, with mothers particularly subject to gendered stigma and blame around caregiving. We first find that spatial norms traverse; the acceptance and popularization of no-kids zones have in turn led to an expansion of hostile sentiments in urban consumption spaces beyond no-kids zones. We also find that such exclusionary norms manifest in gendered ways, with mothers reporting notably heightened levels of wariness and consciousness about how they are perceived by other consumers. We offer novel perspectives and insights on the intersection of societal norms and spatial configurations which, together shape caregiving experiences within urban consumption spaces. Our work highlights a gendered understanding of the challenges and dynamics parents face as they navigate child-unfriendly spaces.

Implementation of Special Economic Zone Policies in Indonesia (Case study in Sorong Special Economic Zone, Southwest Papua)The Special Economic Zone policy in Indonesia is carried out to accelerate the growth and development of regional economies by estab

Implementation of Special Economic Zone Policies in Indonesia (Case study in Sorong Special Economic Zone, Southwest Papua)The Special Economic Zone policy in Indonesia is carried out to accelerate the growth and development of regional economies by estab

The carbon emission reduction effect of China’s national high-tech industrial development zones

The double carbon goal is a wide and profound economic and social systematic change. It is also crucial to China's sustainable development. How to promote emission reduction, the National High-Tech Industrial Development Zones(NHTDZs) policy is the key to addressing this problem. Based on urban data from 2003 to 2019 from China, this paper uses the multi-time point asymptotic difference method to explore the impact of the NHTDZs establishment on carbon emissions. The establishment of NHTDZs reduces CO2 emissions, which remains valid through robustness tests. The mechanism analysis demonstrated that the construction of NHTDZs reduces CO2 emissions by increasing innovation levels, increasing research expenditures and emphasizing human capital. Further analysis shown that geographic location, initial resource endowment, population size, and level of green finance development are difference in different cities. This provides guidance promoting the development of NHTDZs and future layout.

Boat effects on lake water clarity and the efficacy of a no-wake zone policy

Boating activity in shallow waters of lakes can lead to sediment resuspension and potential nutrient release, affecting water quality parameters. No-wake zones, to minimize boating-induced effects, are often defined based on distance from shore. This study assessed the effects of boating on shallow waters and the efficacy of an existing no-wake zone policy in a midsize lake. Two experiments were conducted: (1) Turbidity and pressure data were collected along a broad shallow shelf on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe in the summer of 2019 and (2) turbidity and pressure observations were conducted while boats traveled at speeds between 8 kmh−1 (5 mph) and 40 kmh−1 over a water depth of ≈ 2.5 m. Results showed that boat-induced sediment resuspension occurred at speeds exceeding 8 kmh−1, with turbidity increases of up to ∼7 NTU. Boat-induced filtered pressure signal was a maximum of 40% of the total daily wave activity, with peaks observed between 10:00 and 12:00. Nevertheless, during the summer and fall of 2019, winds were the dominant driver of sediment resuspension, contributing around 80% of the total wavefield. An evaluation of the current no-wake zone policy at Lake Tahoe suggested that an 8 kmh−1 (5 mph) speed limit is suitable for preventing wake effects. However, the policy falls short in preventing sediment resuspension in the northwestern and southern shores of Lake Tahoe. This calls for the consideration of multiple variables, such as lakebed sediment type and water depth, when defining no-wake zone policies to effectively mitigate boating-induced effects.

Impact of the National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Zone on corporate ESG: Evidence from China

This study examines the effect of implementation of the National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Zone (NECCDZ) policy in China as a quasi-natural experiment on Chinese listed firms’ ESG performance. By utilizing a multi-period differences-in-differences model, the empirical results reveal that the NECCDZ policy boosted the ESG performance of China’s A-share listed companies in the pilot region by an average of 38%. However, the NECCDZ policy has differential effects on the three subdimensions of ESG. More specifically, the NECCDZ policy significantly improves the social responsibility performance and governance performance of the company, and has a lagged positive effect on the environmental performance. The mechanism analysis shows that the NECCDZ policy enhances corporate ESG practices by promoting enterprise green technology innovation, while media attention positively moderates the impact of the NECCDZ policy on corporate ESG practices. Further analysis shows that the NECCDZ policy also improves the enterprises’ financing environment through government subsidies and public investment. Overall, the empirical findings show the effectiveness of NECCDZ policy in enhancing ESG practices at the enterprise level and offer a new approach to improving corporate ESG finance in emerging markets such as China.

Research on the impact of China’s free trade zone policies on urban economic development

ABSTRACT The paper explores the impact of China’s free trade zone policies on urban economic development by way of the time-varying DID model using the annual panel data of 284 cities from 2010 to 2019. Through the study, it is found that the free trade zone policies have effectively promoted urban economic growth. Moreover, it is found that: (1) the pilot cities implementing free trade zone policies have registered economic growth via the mediating effect of foreign trade; (2) the free trade zone policies exert more obvious influential effect on eastern and coastal cities; (3) the relatively loose scope of free trade zones can more effectively promote the local urban economic development.