Protecting Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains of Hometown: Local-Born Mayors and Pollution Reduction

Weixing Cai, Yuqi Pu, Haowei Wang and Xi Bai

Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 2025, vol. 61, issue 6, 1508-1523

Abstract: Pollution prevention and control have garnered significant attention globally. Existing literature indicates that local officials play an important role in pollution abatement in China. We used unique firm-level data to investigate the impact of local-born mayors on pollution emissions. The results showed that local-born mayors could bring approximately a 4.41% reduction in pollution emissions; the pollution reduction is more pronounced in high-polluting cities, mayors with weaker promotion incentives, state-owned firms, and small firms. The potential mechanisms are encouraging high-polluting firms to install waste gas facilities and reducing government subsidies. Finally, we provided suggestive evidence supporting the information advantage and reputation effect of local-born mayors.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mes:emfitr:v:61:y:2025:i:6:p:1508-1523

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DOI: 10.1080/1540496X.2024.2422976

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