The Impact of Urban Transportation Infrastructure on Air Quality

Yujing Guo, Qian Zhang, Kin Keung Lai, Yingqin Zhang, Shubin Wang and Wanli Zhang
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Yujing Guo: International Business School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Qian Zhang: International Business School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Kin Keung Lai: International Business School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Yingqin Zhang: International Business School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Shubin Wang: School of Economics and Management, Xi’an University of Posts & Telecommunications, Xi’an 710061, China
Wanli Zhang: School of Finance and Economics of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-25

Abstract: While previous study has confirmed significant correlation between infrastructure construction and air quality, little is known about the nature of the relationship. In this paper, we intend to fill this gap by using the Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) model to discuss the nonlinear relationship between transportation infrastructure construction and air quality. The panel data includes 280 cities in China for the period 2000-2017. We find that the transportation infrastructure investment is positively correlated to the air quality when the GDP per capita is below RMB 7151 or the number of motor vehicle population per capita is below 37 (vehicles per 10,000 persons) where the model is in the lower regime, and that the transportation infrastructure investment is negatively correlated to the air quality when the GDP per capita is greater than RMB 7151 or the number of motor vehicle population per capita is larger than 37 (vehicles per 10,000 persons) where the model is in the upper regime. The empirical results of the three sub-samples, including eastern, western and central regions, are similar to that of the national level. Furthermore, increasing transportation infrastructure investment is conducive to improving air quality. Urban bus services, green area, population density, wind speed and rainfall are also conducive to reducing air pollution, but the role of environmental regulation is not significant. After adding the instrumental variable (urban built-up area), the conclusions are further supported. Finally, relevant policy recommendations for reducing air pollution are proposed based on the empirical results.

Keywords: transportation infrastructure; urban road area; air pollution; PSTR model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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