Environmental Inequality in China: A “Pyramid Model” and Nationwide Pilot Analysis of Prefectures with Sources of Industrial Pollution

Qi He, Hong Fang, Han Ji and Siran Fang
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Qi He: School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Hong Fang: School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Han Ji: Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Siran Fang: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: In China, environmental pollution generated via industrialization as well as profound changes in the social structure and the gradual maturation of the social hierarchy have jointly contributed to the Chinese people’s increased environmental consciousness and appeals for environmental justice (EJ). Because of the absence of an EJ theory and a lack of empirical research focused on China, this paper proposes a “Pyramid Model” for EJ research in China that includes the following three factors: basic demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, U.S.-based EJ principles, and Chinese characteristics. A nationwide pilot analysis of environmental inequality at the prefecture level is conducted by empirically examining the association between the demographic variables and socioeconomic status with sources of industrial pollution in China. The prefecture-based results are shown to be robust, and they indicate that areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and western regions of China carry disproportionate environmental burdens. However, a different picture for migrants is presented, revealing that Chinese migrants are not currently exposed to greater levels of industrial pollution. Relevant interpretations of these findings are provided. The results also show that environmental inequality associated with income level, which is observed in the U.S., does not occur in China.

Keywords: environmental inequality; environmental justice; industrial pollution; prefectures; demographic and socioeconomic factors; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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