Breaking down the barriers to clean air:The effects of China’s Zero-Waste City policy on PM_(2.5)concentration  

作　　者：Wei Wang 

机构地区：[1]School of Economics and Business Administration,Chongqing University,Chongqing 400044,China

出　　处：《Chinese Journal of Population,Resources and Environment》2025年第1期75-84,共10页中国人口·资源与环境(英文版)

基　　金：The authors declare that fund support was received from National Social Science Fund of China[Grant No.23BJL010].

摘　　要：As urbanization accelerates globally,air pollution-particularly PM_(2.5)-is becoming an increasingly significant threat,not only to public health but also the environment.In-depth research on the impact of China’s Zero Waste City pilot policy on PM_(2.5)concentration offers valuable insights into the policy’s effectiveness and provides a potential model for environmental governance worldwide.This study employs panel data from 293 Chinese cities from 2014 to 2022 to systematically analyze the impact of the Zero-Waste City policy on PM_(2.5)concentration using a difference-in-differences model.The findings indicate that the policy not only directly reduces PM_(2.5)concentration but also indirectly curbs PM_(2.5)emissions by enhancing green innovation and green economic efficiency.Moreover,the policy’s effects are found to be positively moderated by urban energy dependence and digital financial inclusion,while they are negatively moderated by the government debt ratio.Based on these findings,this study suggests that cities should actively develop their digital economy,reduce government debt,promote green innovation,and improve green economic efficiency,as doing so will enhance their implementation of environmental policies and promote sustainable urban development.

关 键 词：Zero-Waste City pilot policy PM_(2.5) Green innovation Green economy Sustainable development Difference-in-differences model 

分 类 号：F42[经济管理—产业经济]