3 Mechanisms of Localized Cleanup By reviewing numerous government policy documents, the researchers found that local governments often explicitly mentioned strategic cleaning measures in their official documents. They identified 121 documents from 72 cities that mentioned specific targeted measures near the monitors, such as coal use regulations, dust suppression, traffic restrictions, etc. For empirical tests of these mechanisms, the study examines how monitor automation affects the spatial patterns of industrial activities. Using satellite-based data on thermal anomalies, the results show a 10.1 percent reduction in the probability of observing industrial activities within a 3 km radius of monitors relative to unmonitored areas. Also, the analysis of satellite-based relative humidity clearly reveals that automation increases the relative humidity near monitors. Factors behind Differentiated Responses across Cities Data Manipulation before Automation: Cities with a history of data manipulation under previous monitoring systems show larger pollution gaps between monitored and unmonitored areas following the rollout of automated monitors. Local Officials’ Political Incentives: As the nationwide antipollution campaign strengthens the tie between monitored pollution levels and local officials’ performance evaluation, city leaders with a higher likelihood of promotion than the provincial median have a greater inclination toward strategic cleaning. Also, greater strategic responses are observed among cities with pollution reduction targets. Public Pressure: Stronger strategically targeted responses take place in provinces with low levels of civic engagement in environmental issues, which suggests complementarity between top-down and bottom-up approaches in achieving environmental targets. Additional Costs of Uneven Pollution Controls Reexamination of Environmental Performance: As the comparison of pollution control results between satellite and ground-based measures shows, the strategic response at the local level worsened the monitors’ representativeness in measuring citywide air quality. It could lead to biased policy evaluations and subsequent actions since higher-level regulators often rely on monitor readings to reward or punish local officials. Implications for Environmental Justice: As more developed and urbanized areas tend to contain more monitors, strategic cleaning tends to bring about greater health and amenity benefits from pollution reduction for highincome and urban residents. These consequences could be further amplified by large disparities in the utilization of health services, awareness of pollution-related risks, and prevention measures between rural and urban areas. Recommendations Integrate Multiple Data Sources The study reveals that the current coverage of the monitoring network in China is insufficient to preclude local officials’ strategic responses. In this case, satellitebased pollution measures, which can fill the gap in the spatial coverage of ground monitors, can help evaluators better interpret the monitored data. Also, advanced monitoring technologies, such as mobile monitors and micro-monitors, can be leveraged to broaden network coverage and further supplement data sources. The evaluators should integrate information from the ground monitoring system, satellite-based data, mobile monitors, observations by the public, and third-party auditors, for evaluation accuracy and better regulatory outcomes. Enhance Public Participation Regarding the growing public awareness about environmental issues and the increasing complexity of pollution monitoring, the country’s environmental authority should engage local citizens in pollution monitoring and management more actively. Using e-governance has become a highly cost-effective approach for authorities at different levels to promote public engagement. For example, some local governments have launched real-time disclosure of monitoring data or provided speedy follow-up to public claims on social media platforms. Main Reference Yang, Lin, Yatang Lin, Jin Wang, and Fangyuan Peng. "Achieving Air Pollution Control Targets with Technology‑Aided Monitoring: Better Enforcement or Localized Efforts?." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 16, no. 4 (2024): 280-315. Public Policy BULLETIN Effects of Automated Monitoring on Achieving Air Pollution Control Targets: Evidence from China
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