Has the Establishment of National Key Ecological Function Zones Improved Eco-Environmental Quality?—Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in 130 Counties in Sichuan Province, China

Yuanjie Deng, Lu Ming, Yifeng Hai, Hang Chen, Dingdi Jize, Ji Luo, Xiaohan Yan, Xiaolong Zhang, Shunbo Yao and Mengyang Hou ()
Additional contact information
Yuanjie Deng: School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
Lu Ming: School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
Yifeng Hai: School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
Hang Chen: School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
Dingdi Jize: School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
Ji Luo: School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
Xiaohan Yan: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Xiaolong Zhang: The West Center for Economic Research, Southwest University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China
Shunbo Yao: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Mengyang Hou: School of Economics, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: China’s National Key Ecological Function Zones (NKEFZs) currently represent the largest and most extensive ecological conservation policy in China, with one of the core objectives of this policy being to improve eco-environmental quality (EEQ). This study regards the establishment of NKEFZs as a quasi-natural experiment. Based on panel data from 130 counties in Sichuan Province from 2001 to 2021, a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model was employed to evaluate the impact of NKEFZ establishment on EEQ. The findings indicate the following: ① The establishment of NKEFZs can significantly enhance the EEQ of the covered areas, albeit as a gradual long-term process. This conclusion not only meets the parallel-trends assumption but also holds true in a series of robustness tests such as placebo tests. ② Mechanism analysis reveals that NKEFZs can enhance EEQ through the effects of optimizing land spatial allocation and upgrading industrial structure. ③ Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the beneficial effect of NKEFZs on EEQ varies across different functional zone types, geographic spaces and ethnic regions. Our study not only contributes to the accumulation of empirical evidence and institutional refinement in the sustainable implementation of ecological policies in China but also offers valuable insights and references for other countries in formulating policies for eco-environmental protection.

Keywords: National Key Ecological Function Zones (NKEFZs); multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model; eco-environmental quality (EEQ); quasi-natural experiment; policy evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/677/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/677/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:5:p:677-:d:1393874

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().