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The impact of eco-industrial parks on urban haze pollution: evidence from China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2025

Qingshan Ma Open the ORCID record for Qingshan Ma [Opens in a new window] ,
Fei Wang Open the ORCID record for Fei Wang [Opens in a new window] ,
Lingyun He Open the ORCID record for Lingyun He [Opens in a new window] ,
Xiaoke Chai  and
Chuanxi Yu
Qingshan Ma
Affiliation:
School of Economics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
Fei Wang
Affiliation:
School of Economics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Lingyun He*
Affiliation:
School of Economics, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China
Xiaoke Chai
Affiliation:
School of Economics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Chuanxi Yu
Affiliation:
School of Economics, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China
*
*Corresponding author: Lingyun He; Email: helingyun@zuel.edu.cn
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Abstract

With the green, circular, and low-carbon concept, eco-industrial parks are regarded as key drivers for maximizing environmental and economic benefits. Based on the panel data of 276 cities in China from 2007 to 2018, this paper regards the establishment of eco-industrial parks as a quasi-natural experiment, and employs the difference-in-differences method to test the impact of eco-industrial parks on urban haze pollution. We find that eco-industrial parks significantly reduce urban haze pollution and the conclusion holds with robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of eco-industrial parks on haze pollution is more pronounced in eastern and resource-based cities. Finally, mechanism analysis indicates that eco-industrial parks reduce urban haze pollution mainly by promoting technological innovation, upgrading industrial structure, and strengthening urban environmental regulations.

Keywords

industrial parkseco-industrial parkshaze pollutiondifference-in-differences

JEL classification

L16: Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics: Industrial Structure and Structural Change • Industrial Price Indices L52: Industrial Policy • Sectoral Planning Methods Q53: Air Pollution • Water Pollution • Noise • Hazardous Waste • Solid Waste • Recycling

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , June 2025 , pp. 202 - 219
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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