Identifying characteristic changes in club convergence of China's urban pollution emission: A spatial-temporal feature analysis

We explore China's pollution emission convergence through theoretical deduction and empirical test using a spatial Green Solow model. First, the extended theoretical analysis results show that an economy will pass the inflec-tion point of Environmental Kuznets Curve when growth rate of pollution reduction technology exceeds that of output, which supports the existence of pollution emission convergence. Secondly, estimation results of a dynamic spatial panel data model show that China's urban pollution emission has convergence properties in which club convergence will come true first. Thirdly, China's low-pollution urban cluster has entered a benign pattern of pollution prevention; the medium-pollution club characterized by pollution transfer shows beggar thy-neighbor effects; while the high-pollution club with a typical positive feedback mechanism of pollution still faces risks of escalating pollution. Hence, the government should pay great attention to pollution prevention of the medium-and high-pollution clubs by strengthening regional coordination and accelerating industrial upgrading, which promotes the shift of pollution prevention from club convergence to absolute convergence and provides an environmental guarantee for high-quality development. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Theoretical deduction and empirical tests suggest that China's pollution emissions exhibit convergence, with different types of pollution clubs identified. The government should prioritize pollution prevention efforts in the medium- and high-pollution clubs.