Your browser does not support the PubReader view.
Go to this page to see a list of supporting browsers.
International Area Studies Review
[ Article ]
International Area Studies Review - Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.267-288
ISSN: 2233-8659 (Print)
Print publication date 01 Sep 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69473/iasr.2024.27.3.267

The Influence of Income Inequality on Air Environmental Quality: An Analysis of the Inland Region in China

Tao Liu ; Grichawat Lowatcharin* ; Peerasit Kamnuansilpa ; Lingtong Liu
College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen / School of Economics and Management, Ningde Normal University, Ningde, Thailand / China
College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Correspondence to: *Email: grichawat@kku.ac.th

Abstract

The influence of income inequality on air quality is a multifaceted matter that involves society, economy, and the environment. Although the inland region of China has achieved rapid economic development and fully utilized their abundant natural resources, it has also been accompanied by widening income disparities and environmental pollution issues. Especially the frequent occurrence of haze and sandstorms poses serious challenges to the sustainable development and residents’ lives in inland areas. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, this paper is based on panel data from 20 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions in the inland region from 2006 to 2020 and uses the pooled Ordinary Least Squares regression (POLS) to conduct an in-depth analysis of the repercussions of income inequality on air quality. By studying the relationship between the two, this paper aims to provide policy makers with scientific and reasonable policy recommendations, better balance income distribution differences and environmental governance, and attain a sustainable and robust development of the economy and environment in inland areas.

Keywords:

Income inequality, Air quality, Pooled ordinary least squares regression, Inland region

AI Acknowledgment

Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were not used in any way to prepare, write, or complete essential authoring tasks in this manuscript.

Conflict of Interests

The author(s) declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

The author(s) declare that there is no funding.

References

  • Agarwal, A., Kaushik, A., Kumar, S., & Mishra, R. K. (2020). Comparative study on air quality status in Indian and Chinese cities before and during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 13(10), 1167–1178. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-020-00881-z]
  • Alataş, S., & Akın, T. (2022). The impact of income inequality on environmental quality: A sectoral-level analysis. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 65(10), 1949–1974. [https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2022.2050684]
  • Baloch, M. A., Danish, Khan, S. U. D., Ulucak, Z. Ş., & Ahmad, A. (2020). Analyzing the relationship between poverty, income inequality, and CO2 emission in Sub-Saharan African countries. Science of the Total Environment, 740, 139867. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139867]
  • Boyce, J. K. (2003). Inequality and Environmental Protection (PERI Working Paper Series, No. 52). Political Economy Research Institute.
  • Cernev, T., & Fenner, R. (2020). The importance of achieving foundational Sustainable Development Goals in reducing global risk. Futures, 115, 102492. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2019.102492]
  • Chen, S. Y. (2009). Energy consumption, CO2 emission and sustainable development in Chinese industry. Economic Research Journal, 4(4), 41–55. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11459-009-0029-9]
  • Chen, T. L., & Wang, M. (2024). Environmental regulation, endowment characteristics and income inequality: A general equilibrium analysis. Journal of Environmental Management, 368, 122118. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122118]
  • Chen, Y. (2012). The impact and countermeasures of international environmental regulations on China’s export trade. Practice in Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, 5, 43-45.
  • Consoli, D., Castellacci, F., & Santoalha, A. (2023). E-skills and income inequality within European regions. Industry and Innovation, 30(7), 919–946. [https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2023.2230222]
  • Dinda, S. (2004). Environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis: A survey. Ecological Economics, 49(4), 431– 455. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.02.011]
  • Duarte, R., Miranda-Buetas, S., & Sarasa, C. (2021). Household consumption patterns and income inequality in EU countries: Scenario analysis for a fair transition towards low-carbon economies. Energy Economics, 104, 105614. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105614]
  • Gao, D., Li, G., & Li, Y. (2022). Government cooperation, market integration, and energy efficiency in urban agglomerations—Based on the quasi-natural experiment of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Economic Coordination Committee. Energy & Environment, 33(8), 1679–1694. [https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X211047480]
  • Gao, X., & Fan, M. (2023). The effect of income inequality and economic growth on carbon dioxide emission. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(24), 65149–65159. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27009-x]
  • Grossman, G. M., & Krueger, A. B. (1991). Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement (NBER Working Papers Series, No. 3914). National Bureau Of Economic Research. [https://doi.org/10.3386/w3914]
  • Grunewald, N., Klasen, S., Martínez-Zarzoso, I., & Muris, C. (2017). The trade-off between income inequality and carbon dioxide emissions. Ecological Economics, 142, 249–256. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.034]
  • Hailemariam, A., Dzhumashev, R., & Shahbaz, M. (2020). Carbon emissions, income inequality and economic development. Empirical Economics, 59(3), 1139–1159. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-019-01664-x]
  • Han, Y. H., Li, Z. W., Zhang, F., & Shen, C. (2019). Environmental effects of bidirectional FDI in China. Resource Science, 41(11), 2043–2058. [https://doi.org/10.18402/resci.2019.11.08]
  • Hao, Y., Liu, J., Lu, Z. N., Shi, R., & Wu, H. (2021). Impact of income inequality and fiscal decentralization on public health: Evidence from China. Economic Modelling, 94, 934–944. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2020.02.034]
  • He, Y., Liu, X., & Wang, X. (2022). How can environment get better? A research review of pollution governance. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 33(2), 406–418. [https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-08-2021-0187]
  • Heng, Y. (2011). Characteristics of inter-regional income disparities in China. Social Sciences in China, 32(3), 123–144. ★10.1080/02529203.2011.598305 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02802-9]
  • Hübler, M. (2017). The inequality-emissions nexus in the context of trade and development: A quantile regression approach. Ecological Economics, 134, 174–185. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.12.015]
  • IPCC (2006). 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/ public/2006gl/index.html
  • Jorgenson, A., Schor, J., & Huang, X. (2017). Income inequality and carbon emissions in the United States: A state-level analysis, 1997-2012. Ecological Economics, 134, 40–48. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.12.016]
  • Kasuga, H., & Takaya, M. (2017). Does inequality affect environmental quality? Evidence from major Japanese cities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 3689-3701. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.099]
  • Khademolhosseini, J., Mousavi, S. N., & Khodaparast Shirazi, J. (2022). The effect of income inequality on SO2 and SPM emissions. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 53(2), 539–551. [https://doi.org/10.22059/ijaedr.2022.325416.669050]
  • Khan, S., Wang, Y., & Zeeshan, A. (2022). Impact of poverty and income inequality on the ecological footprint in Asian developing economies: Assessment of Sustainable Development Goals. Energy Reports, 8, 670–679. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.12.001]
  • Knight, K. W., Schor, J. B., & Jorgenson, A. K. (2017). Wealth inequality and carbon emissions in high-income countries. Social Currents, 4(5), 403–412. [https://doi.org/10.1177/2329496517704872]
  • Kong, F. (2022). A better understanding of the role of new energy and green finance to help achieve carbon neutrality goals, with special reference to China. Scienzce Progress, 105(1). [https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504221086361]
  • Li, J. K., Cheng, L. Y., & Zhang, T. B. (2017). Does foreign direct investment have a “pollution halo” effect? Chinese Population, Resources and Environment, 27(10), 74–83.
  • Li, Q. (2018). Has industrial upgrading promoted ecological environment optimization? Based on panel data analysis of 108 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Finance and Trade Research, 12, 39–47. [https://doi.org/10.19337/j.cnki.34-1093/f.2018.12.004]
  • Li, Z. H. (2017). The income threshold effect of income gap on environmental pollution: theoretical and empirical research. Inquiry into Economic Issues, 3, 63–72.
  • Li, Z., & Yang, S. Y. (2017). Science and technology innovation, industrial upgrading, and economic growth: Interactive mechanism and empirical test. Jilin University Journal Social Sciences Edition, 57(3), 41–52, 204-205. [https://doi.org/10.15939/j.jujsse.2017.03.004]
  • Liu, C., Jiang, Y., & Xie, R. (2019). Does income inequality facilitate carbon emission reduction in the US? Journal of Cleaner Production, 217, 380–387. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.242]
  • Liu, H., Anwar, A., Razzaq, A., & Yang, L. (2022). The key role of renewable energy consumption, technological innovation, and institutional quality in formulating the SDG policies for emerging economies: evidence from quantile regression. Energy Reports, 8, 11810–11824. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.08.231]
  • Liu, Q., Wang, S., Zhang, W., & Li, J. (2018). Income distribution and environmental quality in China: A spatial econometric perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 205, 14–26. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.090]
  • Liu, Z., Zhang, H., Zhang, Y. J., & Qin, C. X. (2020). How does income inequality affect energy efficiency? Empirical evidence from 33 Belt and Road Initiative countries. Journal of Cleaner Production, 269, 122421. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122421]
  • Luo, Y., Sun, F., Yan, X., & Sun, T. (2022). Research on comprehensive assessment of effect on environmental pollution collaborative treatment: Taking China’s Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration as an example. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 31(6), 5151–5162. [https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/151494]
  • Ma, L., Zhu, Z., Li, S., & Li, J. (2023). Analysis of spatial and temporal changes in human interference in important ecological function areas in China: The Gansu section of Qilian Mountain National Park as an example. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(9), 1029. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11633-8]
  • Mader, S. (2018). The nexus between social inequality and CO2 emissions revisited: Challenging its empirical validity. Environmental Science & Policy, 89, 322–329. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.08.009]
  • Mahalik, M. K., Mallick, H., Padhan, H., & Sahoo, B. (2018). Is skewed income distribution good for environmental quality? A comparative analysis among selected BRICS countries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(23), 23170–23194. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2401-8]
  • Menyelim, C. M., Babajide, A. A., Omankhanlen, A. E., & Ehikioya, B. I. (2021). Financial inclusion, income inequality and sustainable economic growth in sub-Saharan African countries. Sustainability, 13(4), 1780. [https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041780]
  • Padhan, H., Haouas, I., Sahoo, B., & Heshmati, A. (2019). What matters for environmental quality in the Next Eleven countries: Economic growth or income inequality? Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(22), 23129–23148. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05568-2]
  • Panayotou, T. (1993). Empirical tests and policy analysis of environmental degradation at different stages of economic development. International Labour Organization. http://www.ilo.org/public/libdoc/ilo/1993/93B09_31_engl.pdf
  • Pata, U. K. (2021). Renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, economic complexity, CO2 emissions, and ecological footprint in the USA: Testing the EKC hypothesis with a structural break. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(1), 846–861. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10446-3]
  • Pata, U. K., Yilanci, V., Hussain, B., & Naqvi, S. A. A. (2022). Analyzing the role of income inequality and political stability in environmental degradation: Evidence from South Asia. Gondwana Research, 107, 13–29. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.02.009]
  • Qin, M., Fan, L. F., Li, J., & Li, Y. F. (2021). The income distribution effects of environmental regulation in China: The case of binding SO2 reduction targets. Journal of Asian Economics, 73, 101272. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2021.101272]
  • Rai, S. K., & Rawat, A. (2022). Exploring the nexus between environment quality, economic development, and industrialization in BRICS nations: The role of technological innovation and income inequality. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(25), 37842–37853. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18181-z]
  • Razmjoo, A., Kaigutha, L. G., Rad, M. V., Marzband, M., Davarpanah, A., & Denai, M. (2021). A technical analysis investigating energy sustainability utilizing reliable renewable energy sources to reduce CO2 emissions in a high potential area. Renewable Energy, 164, 46-57. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.042]
  • Rojas-Vallejos, J., & Lastuka, A. (2020). The income inequality and carbon emissions trade-off revisited. Energy Policy, 139, 111302. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111302]
  • Shah, M. I., Shuaibu, M. S., AbdulKareem, H. K., Khan, Z., & Abbas, S. (2023). Inequality consequences of natural resources, environmental vulnerability, and monetary-fiscal stability: A global evidence. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(4), 10329–10345. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22788-1]
  • Tang, J., Gong, J., & Ma, W. (2022). Narrowing urban-rural income gap in China: The role of the targeted poverty alleviation program. Economic Analysis and Policy, 75, 74–90. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2022.05.004]
  • Wan, G., Wang, C., Wang, J., & Zhang, X. (2022). The income inequality-CO2 emissions nexus: Transmission mechanisms. Ecological Economics, 195, 107360. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107360]
  • Wang, F., Yang, J., Shackman, J., & Liu, X. (2021). Impact of income inequality on urban air quality: A game theoretical and empirical study in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8546. [https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168546]
  • Wang, L., & Chen, L. (2024). Resource dependence and air pollution in China: Do the digital economy, income inequality, and industrial upgrading matter? Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(1), 2069–2109. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02802-9]
  • Wang, Q., Li, L., & Li, R. (2023). Uncovering the impact of income inequality and population aging on carbon emission efficiency: An empirical analysis of 139 countries. Science of the Total Environment, 857, 159508. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159508]
  • Wang, Q., Yang, T., & Li, R. (2023). Does income inequality reshape the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis? A nonlinear panel data analysis. Environmental Research, 216, 114575. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114575]
  • Wang, S., & Ouyang, Z. (2008). The threshold effect of the urban-rural income disparity on real economic growth in China. Social Sciences in China, 29(3), 39–53. [https://doi.org/10.1080/02529200802288005]
  • Wang, Y., Wang, J., Liu, Y., & Li, J. (2022). Calibrations of urbanization level in China. China CDC Weekly, 4(6), 111–115. [https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2022.007]
  • Wang, Z., & Lv, D. (2022). Analysis of agricultural CO2 emissions in Henan province, China, based on EKC and decoupling. Sustainability, 14(3), 1931. [https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031931]
  • Wei, H., Nian, M., & Li, L. (2020). China’s strategies and policies for regional development during the period of the 14th five-year plan. Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies, 8(2), 2050008 . [https://doi.org/10.1142/S2345748120500086]
  • Wolde-Rufael, Y., & Idowu, S. (2017). Income distribution and CO2 emission: A comparative analysis for China and India. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 74, 1336–1345. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.149]
  • Xiao, Y., Tang, X., Wang, J., Huang, H., & Liu, L. (2022). Assessment of coordinated development between tourism development and resource environment carrying capacity: A case study of Yangtze River economic Belt in China. Ecological Indicators, 141, 109125. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109125]
  • Xue, J., & Ding, J. (2020). The influence of economic growth and export trade on environmental pollution. Economic Forum, 10, 34–42.
  • Yamasaki, K., & Yamada, T. (2022). A framework to assess the local implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11. Sustainable Cities and Society, 84, 104002. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104002]
  • Yameogo, C. E., & Dauda, R. O. (2022). The effect of income inequality and economic growth on environmental quality: A comparative analysis between Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Journal of Public Affairs, 22(3), e2566 . [https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2566]
  • Yang, T., & Liu, W. (2018). Does air pollution affect public health and health inequality? Empirical evidence from China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 203, 43–52. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.242]
  • Yousuf, S., Donald, A. N., & Hassan, A. B. U. M. (2022). A review on particulate matter and heavy metal emissions; Impacts on the environment, detection techniques and control strategies. MOJ Ecology & Environmental Sciences , 7(1), 1–5. [https://doi.org/10.15406/mojes.2022.07.00239]
  • Zaatari, R. (2022). The green economy of Morocco [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Glasgow. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/83070
  • Zhan, H. (2018). The effect of income inequality on environmental pollution: Reassessment of the environmental Kuznets curve of China. Economic Review, 214(6), 102–114, 168. [https://doi.org/10.19361/j.er.2018.06.08]
  • Zhang, W., Shi, P., & Huang, W. (2022). Research on spatial and temporal pattern evolution and driving factors of county carbon emissions in underdeveloped regions: Gansu province of Western China as an example. Sustainability, 15(1), 291. [https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010291]
  • Zhao, K., Yu, B., Du, H., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Will air pollution affect entrepreneurial activity? Evidence from China. Applied Economics Letters, 30(17), 2396–2400. [https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2022.2097177]
  • Zhao, W., & Zou, Y. (2018). Hefei: An emerging city in inland China. Cities, 77, 158–169. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2018.01.008]
  • Zhao, Y., Tan, Y., & Feng, S. (2020). Does reducing air pollution improve the progress of sustainable development in China? Journal of Cleaner Production, 272, 122759. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122759]
  • Zhou, A., & Li, J. (2020). Impact of income inequality and environmental regulation on environmental quality: Evidence from China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 274, 123008. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123008]
  • Zhuang, G., & Dou, X. (2023). Energy base for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. In G. Zhuang & H. Zhou (Eds.), China’s road to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality (pp. 61–86). Springer Singapore. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3122-4_4]