Do China’s Urban–Environmental Quality and Economic Growth Conform to the Environmental Kuznets Curve?

Wenhao Song, Chunhui Ye, Yuheng Liu and Weisong Cheng
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Wenhao Song: China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Chunhui Ye: China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yuheng Liu: School of Economics and Finance, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
Weisong Cheng: China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) expresses the relationship between environmental quality and economic growth. Based on the defects of previous studies on EKC using only environmental pollution indicators, this study holds that environmental quality is the result of pollutants after treatment, absorption, and self-purification, including two dimensions of pollution and absorption. Therefore, the environmental pollution and absorption data of 74 key environmental monitoring cities in China from 2005 to 2017 were selected, and a comprehensive index of environmental quality was constructed using the vertical and horizontal grading method. Then, based on the relevant economic growth indicators of these cities, they were divided into first-tier and new first-tier, second-tier, third-tier, and below. It was found that the EKC of the total sample, the first-tier and new first-tier cities, and the second-tier cities presented an inverted N-shape and had passed the second inflection point, where environmental quality continues to improve with the deepening of economic growth. There was no EKC in the third-tier and below cities. The findings have important implications. China can cross the second inflection point of the EKC and improve environmental quality at a low income level. Therefore, by vigorously developing cleaner production technologies and raising residents’ awareness of environmental protection, it is possible to improve environmental quality at a lower income level than expected, which provides a useful reference for other developing countries.

Keywords: urban–environmental quality; economic growth; EKC; environmental pollution index; environmental absorption index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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