Impacts of Freight Transport on PM 2.5 Concentrations in China: A Spatial Dynamic Panel Analysis

Yan Wang and Dong Yang
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Yan Wang: School of Statistics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing 100029, China
Dong Yang: China Academy of Transportation Sciences, Beijing 100029, China

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Freight transport policies have been developed to reduce air pollution in China. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of a freight modal shift on PM 2.5 concentrations using the panel data of 30 provinces in China over the period 1999–2016. The direct and spillover effects of a freight modal shift on PM 2.5 concentrations in China, as well as the effects of other socioeconomic factors, were estimated by employing spatial dynamic panel data models. In particular, the channel through which the freight modal shift might be beneficial in reducing PM 2.5 concentrations was examined. The results show that PM 2.5 concentrations in China do not only decrease with a modal shift of freight from road to rail in a province, but also and to a larger extent with that in neighboring provinces. However, there exist heterogeneous effects across different regions of China. The interaction between a freight modal shift and energy efficiency may lead to a decrease in the PM 2.5 concentrations, but only in the central and western regions. These findings provide suggestions for government policies directed to sustainable development.

Keywords: freight transport; freight modal shift; PM 2.5 concentrations; spatial dynamic panel; spatial effects; spatial dependence; heterogeneity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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