Data and code for: Informed Enforcement: Lessons from Pollution Monitoring in China

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Sebastian Axbard, Queen Mary, University of London; Zichen Deng, Norwegian School of Economics

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
  replication 03/06/2023 03:20:PM
README.pdf application/pdf 81.9 KB 05/07/2023 11:39:PM

Project Citation: 

Axbard, Sebastian, and Deng, Zichen. Data and code for: Informed Enforcement: Lessons from Pollution Monitoring in China. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2023. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2023-12-12. https://doi.org/10.3886/E174901V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary This project provides the data and code accompanying the article "Informed Enforcement Lessons from Pollution Monitoring in China"

Abstract: Government regulations are often imperfectly enforced by public officials. In this study, we exploit the introduction of air pollution monitors in China to investigate if realtime monitoring of policy outcomes affects enforcement of existing regulations. Using assignment criteria established by the central government and new geo-referenced data on local enforcement activities, we show that monitoring: 1) increases enforcement against local firms, 2) improves the targeting of enforcement, and 3) reduces aggregate pollution. These effects are driven by officials facing performance incentives and are stronger when there is limited scope for data manipulation, suggesting that real-time monitoring improves top-down accountability.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms Accountability; Regulatory Enforcement; Pollution
JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
      Q53 Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
      Q58 Environmental Economics: Government Policy
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage China
Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 2010 – 2017
Collection Date(s):  View help for Collection Date(s) 10/1/2017 – 1/1/2019
Universe:  View help for Universe Small cities in China and firms in these cities
Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) event/transaction data; geographic information system (GIS) data; observational data; other


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V1 [2023-12-12]

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