Urban spatial structural options for air pollution control in China: Evidence from provincial and municipal levels
Liyao Zhao, Chenxi Liu, Xiaojun Liu, Kai Liu, Yujia Shi
Abstract
The urban spatial structure is a reflection of urban development in the spatial dimension, and can have spillover effects on the economy, society, and environment. As air pollution gradually restricts eco-friendly development, it is critical to explore the relationship between urban spatial structure and air pollution. This study uses Chinese provinces and cities as subjects, and selects panel data from 2001 to 2016 to investigate the urban spatial structure as reflected by the proportions of the largest urban population in the province and the municipal districts in the city. Air pollution is measured in terms of PM2.5, which is an inversion transformation of remote sensing images. The relationship between urban spatial structure and air pollution is investigated using the spatial measurement model. The results are as follows: At the provincial level, the urban spatial structure and air pollution show a negative correlation. A monocentric spatial structure can help improve air pollution. At the municipal level, the urban spatial structure and air pollution show a U-shaped trend of first decreasing and then rising. Therefore, moderate, rather than excessive, urban agglomeration is required for the urban spatial structure at the municipal level.