Key Factors of Rural Households’ Willingness to Pay for Cleaner Heating in Hebi: A Case Study in Northern China

Wu Xie, Chen Chen, Fangyi Li, Bofeng Cai, Ranran Yang, Libin Cao, Pengcheng Wu and Lingyun Pang
Additional contact information
Wu Xie: School of Management, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Chen Chen: School of Management, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Fangyi Li: School of Management, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Bofeng Cai: Center for Climate Change and Environmental Policy, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing 100012, China
Ranran Yang: School of Management, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Libin Cao: Center for Climate Change and Environmental Policy, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing 100012, China
Pengcheng Wu: Center for Climate Change and Environmental Policy, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing 100012, China
Lingyun Pang: Center for Climate Change and Environmental Policy, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing 100012, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: As coal-fired heating in winter in rural areas of northern China exacerbates air pollution, promoting cleaner heating transition is of significance for environmental sustainability. However, this is difficult as intentions and actions of rural households are deficient. This case study in northern China aims to estimate rural households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for facilities and energy for cleaner heating and explore its key factors. The survey-based analysis found that the total annual WTP for cleaner heating (sum of the WTP for heating facilities and energy per year) varied from RMB 250 to RMB 6800 (RMB 100 ≈ USD 15 in 2018), with a quite low average and a huge difference. The variation of the WTP can be attributed to economic and demographic features and environmental attitudes of households. Improvement of household income and environmental concern will enhance the WTP for cleaner heating, but a high vacancy rate and aging population in rural areas will generally inhibit it. Based on this study, some policy suggestions were proposed to promote cleaner heating transition in rural households; specifically, more attention should be paid to the poor and aged households.

Keywords: cleaner heating; pro-environmental behavior; willingness to pay; subsidy policies; environmental attitude (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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