The Reciprocal and Symbiotic Effects of Industrial Relocation between China and BRI Countries

Reciprocity and symbiosis are essential to the creation of“a community with a shared future for mankind”,and industrial relocation is a key strategy for implementing the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).This paper investigates the reciprocal and symbiotic effects of industrial relocation between China and BRI countries,and performs an empirical test using the Eora global supply chain database of 2002-2020.Our findings suggest that there has been an increasing level of industrial reciprocity and symbiosis between China and BRI countries,but great differences exist across sectors and regions;industrial relocation between China and BRI countries is conducive to two-way industrial reciprocity and symbiosis primarily through regional value chain cooperation and an increasing level of industrial agglomeration.The most substantial effects have been observed in industrial relocation involving developed BRI countries,in medium-and high-tech sectors,and following the announcement of the BRI.

A Spatial Econometric Approach to Studying Regional Air Pollution in China

Using spatial econometric method,this paper investigates the mutual influence of air pollution among 31 Chinese provincial regions,together with the effects of energy mix and economic variations.Global spatial autocorrelation analysis reveals that significant positive spatial correlation exists for air pollution;Local spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates that pollution aggregation hot spots are concentrated in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region,the Yangtze River Delta and part of the central region between these two economic growth poles.This paper believes that industrial relocation is a major reason behind such distribution of air pollution in China as it has deepened the spatial correlation between interregional economy and pollution,which will further give rise to the spatial spillover effect of pollution.With the creation of the regression model of spatial and Environmental Kuznets Curve,the authors discovered that the level of pollution is closely related to energy mix and industrial structure.In addition,the inverted U-shape relationship between air pollution and economic development as demonstrated by previous studies does not exist or is yet to appear in China,where continuous growth of per capita GDP is accompanied by an increasing level of pollution.According to empirical analysis,the improvement of environmental quality at the expense of industrial relocation to neighboring regions is temporary.Due to the existence of spillover effect of pollution,regions that have enforced tighter environmental regulation such as Beijing and Tianjin are unable to acquire all benefits from such regulation.Treatment of air pollution necessitates interregional joint prevention and control.In the long run,adjusting energy mix and optimizing industrial structure are the key to fighting air pollution.But in the short run,reducing the consumption of inferior coal is the most effective option for China,which has seen multiple-fold increase in imports of inferior coal each year.

Laboratory of Economics for the Assessment of Environmental Impact Caused by Industrial Activities-Implementation of the WTP-WTA Approach

In this work,a methodological framework has been developed in the form of an algorithmic process,which includes 28 stages of activities and 6 decision nodes,for the assessment of the environmental impact caused by industrial activities.The main part of this process is a modification of the Contingent Valuation Method(CVM),which relied heavily on research based on the WTP-WTA(Willingness to Pay/Receive,respectively)assessment.The research can be carried out either in a strictly controlled environment or on site and as is(“in laboratory conditions”or“real conditions”,respectively,in the terminology of experimental economics).The application of this methodology is presented,referring to three cases of industrial pollution(in three different locations)caused by(i)a cement plant,(ii)an oil refinery complex,and(iii)a small industrial town with a heavily polluted port,in which several industrial units coexist,while all of them are located near Athens,Greece.The results are interpreted/discussed and conclusions are drawn.

Industrial Pollution Governance in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Based on Industrial Relocation

Industrial relocation and ecological subsidy are viewed as effective ways to overcome transboundary industrial pollution. In this paper, we study the transboundary industrial pollution control problem in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the context of industrial relocation. Firstly, we construct an economic model of pollution control with relevant variables such as environmental tax and environmental damage coefficient. Secondly, we solve the economic contributions by using the proportional split-off solution. Finally, we compare the optimal relocation quantity and welfare functions in both cooperative and non-cooperative cases. Our research finds that: 1) The optimal strategy is closely related to utility coefficient, environmental loss coefficient and incentive intensity coefficient.2) The welfare function and the optimal relocation quantity in the cooperative case are significantly greater than those in the non-cooperative case. Based on the analysis, some suggestions are provided for transboundary industrial pollution management.

Are China＇s Exports Crowding Out or Being Crowded Out？ Evidence from Japan＇s Imports

Previous studies have investigated whether Chinese exports have crowaea oul mose from other countries. However, what has yet to be considered is the evidence based on different quality varieties. Using the most detailed Harmonized System 9-digit product- level data, the present paper provides evidence of crowding-out and crowded-out effects across different product quality segments and across manufacturing sectors by quality segments. The empirical evidence presented in this paper shows that the crowding-out effects of Chinese exports have been greatest at the lower end of the quality spectrum but less significant at the higher quality spectrum. Moreover, since 2007, China＇s own exports of lower quality manufactured goods have been increasingly crowded out. The key policy implication is that China＇s export path is in line with that taken by other Asian economies in previous decades; the crowded-out effect could achieve win-win outcomes for countries involved; and lower income countries would do well to be open to receive those relocated low value-added industries from China. However, the relocation policy in China is best implemented gradually as climbing up the product quality ladder takes time.