Miljöekonomiska analyser av smog och luftföroreningsproblemen i Kina
Rapid economic development and urbanization has led to an improved standard of living for the Chinese people. Meanwhile, a series of environmental problems have also appeared and smog, in particular, has caused the Chinese people to realize how serious the situation is. Smog has seriously affected normal economic activities and people's everyday lives, resulting in financial losses, increased mortality and disease. How to handle the smog becomes particularly important. The purpose of this study is to describe and discuss the underlying causes of two sources of pollution, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, as well as what drives individuals' and firms' environmentally destructive behavior. Existing instruments and possible future instruments are also analyzed. These contaminants will be explained and analyzed through three case studies, two case studies of particulate emissions in Beijing and a case study of sulfur dioxide emissions in Shanghai. In the current situation, these two agents do not have sufficiently strong incentives to reduce their emissions, partly because there are no powerful regulations or laws that have a strong influence on their behaviors, and partly because the government does not want firms to be badly affected by these measures.