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Linkages between greenness, socioeconomic conditions, air pollution, and public health in China: does income inequality matters?

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Abstract

The world has witnessed climatic change, innovation, and a transition toward a greener economy and environment in the last few decades. However, the rising economic development has caused human health issues due to rising pollution and poor air quality. The current study analyzes the role of air quality (greenhouse gas, carbon, and nitrogen emissions), forests, health expenditure, and socioeconomic conditions for the rising health issues in the case of China. This study uses quarterly data from 1994Q1 to 2021Q4 and employs various time-series estimating approaches. The Johansen-Fisher cointegration validates that all the variables are cointegrated. Utilizing the three long-run estimators, i.e., fully modified ordinary least square, dynamic ordinary least square, and canonical cointegrating regression, the results asserted that air quality severely affects public health, greenhouse gas emissions, and rising pollution (carbon and nitrogen) levels. Besides, income inequality and socioeconomic condition substantially contributed to health-related issues. However, the forests and health expenditure significantly reduce the health consequences and risks. As a developing and fossil energy-dependent economy, this study provides relevant policy implications for maintaining stable growth and health-related policies in China.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding or first author on reasonable request.

Notes

  1. GINI index: The Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income or consumption among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.

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Funding

This work was supported by Shandong Social Science Planning and Research Project: Research on the comprehensive allocation level measurement and optimization strategy of urban innovation factors in Shandong Province under the digital economy (22DGLJ23).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100, China

    Mengyao Hu

  2. Department of Business Administration, IQRA University, Karachi, 75300, Pakistan

    Irum Shahzadi & Syed Ali Raza

  3. Department of Production Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru, Brazil

    Irum Shahzadi

  4. School of Management, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, 264005, Shandong, China

    Xiuhong Niu

  5. Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanon

    Syed Ali Raza

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  1. Mengyao Hu
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Contributions

Mengyao Hu: writing draft, conclusion, data, analysis, software, and discussion; Irum Shahzadi: analysis, concept, idea, and revision; Syed Ali Raza: discussion, results, policies, and editing; Xiuhong Niu: supervision, results, implications, literature, revision, and editing.

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Correspondence to Xiuhong Niu.

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Hu, M., Shahzadi, I., Raza, S.A. et al. Linkages between greenness, socioeconomic conditions, air pollution, and public health in China: does income inequality matters?. Air Qual Atmos Health 17, 125–138 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-023-01432-y

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