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Clean air as an experience good in urban China
Matthew E Kahn1, Weizeng Sun2, Siqi Zheng3
1Department of Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, NBER, United States of America.
Ecological Economics : the Journal of the International Society for Ecological Economics
|October 25, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 economic shutdown improved air quality in Chinese cities. This "blue sky" progress may persist as cities value clean air, especially where populations are sensitive to pollution.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Urban Studies
- Environmental Economics
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unexpected economic shutdown, leading to significant improvements in urban air quality across China.
- This presented an opportunity to study the impact of reduced pollution on public perception and policy in heavily polluted cities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the temporary improvement in air quality during the COVID-19 shutdown can lead to lasting reductions in urban pollution.
- To examine the role of clean air as an "experience good" and its influence on policy shifts and public demand for environmental protection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Environmental Kuznets Curve across 144 Chinese cities, considering shifts based on demand for clean air.
- Ranking cities by population's baseline sensitivity to air pollution and the magnitude of air quality improvement during the pandemic.
- Monitoring online discussions related to environmental protection and analyzing local government stimulus policies.
Main Results:
- Cities with highly pollution-sensitive populations and significant air quality improvements during the pandemic showed the largest "experience good" effects.
- Increased online public discourse on environmental protection was observed in these cities.
- Local governments in these areas began integrating "green" industrial subsidies into post-COVID economic recovery plans.
Conclusions:
- The experience of cleaner air during the COVID-19 shutdown can increase public demand for sustained air quality improvements.
- This heightened demand, particularly in pollution-sensitive urban areas, can drive policy changes and the adoption of "blue sky" regulations.
- The study suggests that environmental quality improvements, even if initially temporary, can have persistent effects on urban environmental policy and public engagement.
