Environmental decentralization, environmental public service, and public health: evidence from 289 cities in China.

Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 8903118 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-2983 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 02694042 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Geochem Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 1999- : Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic Publishers
Original Publication: Kew, Surrey : Science and Technology Letters, 1985-

Local Government* ; Public Health*; China ; Cities ; Politics

Effective supply of environmental public services (EPS) is important to guarantee the mitigation of residential pollution exposure risk. This study analyzes the impact of the supply efficiency of EPS on residential health through the sample of 289 cities in China by fixed-effect model and threshold regression model. The results show that: (1) Improving the efficiency of EPS can significantly increase the efficiency of pollution control, and improve the environmental quality and health level of residents. (2) Improving the efficiency of EPS can have a greater positive effect on residents' health in areas with high-level population aging, poor medical condition, and low population density. (3) Environmental decentralization weakens the positive effect of EPS on residential health. Giving more power of environmental management to local governments may be detrimental to pollution control. Therefore, differentiated strategies of EPS should be developed to realize the equalization of basic public services with healthcare and environmental protection. It is necessary to strengthen central environmental supervision and establish resident offices for environmental supervision.
(© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

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20BGL189 national office for philosophy and social sciences

Keywords: Environmental decentralization; Health; Population aging; Public service

Date Created: 20211006 Date Completed: 20220815 Latest Revision: 20220815

20231215

10.1007/s10653-021-01112-9

34613559