Industrial agglomeration and haze pollution: Evidence from China

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Economics
• Spatial Analysis

Background:

• Rapid industrialization in China drives economic growth but exacerbates environmental issues like haze pollution.
• Haze pollution is a significant urban problem linked to accelerating urbanization and industrialization, with harmful spatial diffusion effects.
• The spatial structure of industries, particularly industrial agglomeration, is closely tied to haze pollution characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spillover effect of industrial agglomeration on haze pollution using a spatial economic framework.
• To determine if industrial agglomeration can balance economic growth with environmental quality.
• To analyze the relationship between industrial agglomeration and PM2.5 concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized satellite raster map data of PM2.5.
• Employed the location entropy index to measure industrial agglomeration.
• Established a spatial economic framework to analyze spillover effects.

Main Results:

• An inverted U-shaped relationship exists between industrial agglomeration and haze pollution.
• Spatial spillovers significantly contribute to the impact of industrial agglomeration on haze pollution.
• A single threshold effect was observed for knowledge spillovers and pollution disposal infrastructure utilization.

Conclusions:

• Industrial agglomeration's positive impact on air quality is contingent on reaching a specific agglomeration threshold.
• Promoting resource allocation efficiency and knowledge spillovers is crucial for achieving a win-win scenario.
• Policy interventions should focus on optimizing industrial agglomeration to mitigate haze pollution and support sustainable development.