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Investigating the spatio-temporal variations of the impact of urbanization on haze pollution using multiple indicators

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Abstract

Although China’s rapid urbanization in recent decades has brought significant economic development, it has also placed considerable pressure on the country’s environment. Based on the multiple content characteristics of urbanization, this study quantified urbanization using four aspects: urbanization rate, population density, urban expansion, and industrial agglomeration. Using China’s provincial panel data from 2002 to 2018, the spatial and temporal differences of the effects of urbanization on haze pollution were evaluated with the use of a spatial econometric model. The main findings of the study found are as follows: (1) Haze pollution has significant spatial overflow effect and local agglomeration characteristics. (2) Urbanization leads to increased levels of haze pollution. Specifically, urbanization rate, urban expansion, and industrial agglomeration were found to directly increase haze pollution in the provinces, while population density did not have a significant correlation with haze pollution, which suggests different metrics of urbanization may exhibit varying effects on haze pollution. (3) The study found significant regional and temporal differences in the impact of urbanization on haze pollution. Policies and recommendations regarding haze pollution control are proposed based on the findings of the study.

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Notes

  1. Due to the article length limit, the robustness test process of SFE, TFE, and STFE are not elaborated further here. For the method of robustness tests, readers can refer to the books published by Anselin (1988) and Anselin et al. (2005). The detailed reference list are: [1] Anselin, L. Spatial Econometrics: Methods and Models[M]. Springer Netherlands, 1988. [2] Anselin L, Fischer M M, Hewings G J D, Nijkamp P, Snickars F (2005). Advances in spatial econometrics: Methodology, tools and applications. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004, 29–63.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (No. 2018A030313842), Guangdong Philosophy and Social Science Planning Fund (No. GD18YGL01), and Guangzhou Philosophy and Social Science Planning Fund (No. 2020GZGJ119).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou, 510320, China

    Yuanhua Yang

  2. School of Business Administration, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou, 510320, China

    Dengli Tang

  3. School of International Business, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou, 510320, China

    Xi Yang

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  1. Yuanhua Yang
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  2. Dengli Tang
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  3. Xi Yang
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Correspondence to Yuanhua Yang.

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Yang, Y., Tang, D. & Yang, X. Investigating the spatio-temporal variations of the impact of urbanization on haze pollution using multiple indicators. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 35, 703–717 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-020-01937-3

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