Does High-Speed Rail Operation Reduce Ecological Environment Pressure?—Empirical Evidence from China

Changjun Jiang and Xiaoxuan Liu
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Changjun Jiang: College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Xiaoxuan Liu: College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: With improved productivity, the impact of social and economic development on the ecological environment is becoming more and more significant, and the transformation of transportation modes often accompanies the transformation of the economic development mode. It is essential to study the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) on the environment. This article constructs a compiled index Ecological Environment Pressure (EEP) evaluation system. The spatial analysis tool is then used to explore the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of EEP in China. The Difference-in-Difference (DID) method and the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method are used to quantitatively calculate the impact of HSR operations on EEP based on Panel Data. The results show that the EEP in China decreased significantly from 2003 to 2018, and therefore the quality of China’s ecological environment is improving. The regression coefficient of HSR on EEP is significantly negative, indicating that HSR operations will reduce EEP. Additionally, the HSR operation in the eastern and central regions negatively impacts the EEP. At the same time, the HSR operations will also reduce the EEP of resource-based cities, especially for resource-based cities in the central region. The degree of industrial transformation (DIT) and degree of employment transformation (DET), combined with the implementation of HSR operations, can significantly reduce the EEP. It is suggested to formulate more focused actions and policies to reduce EEP and effectively promote sustainable social development.

Keywords: ecological environment pressure; HSR; panel regression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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