Empirical Investigation on the Degree of Influence of Industrial Structure and Urbanization on Haze Pollution in China

Haze pollution in China has become severe in recent years. This weather phenomenon is related to an unreasonable industrial structure and air pollution, which are induced by urbanization to a certain degree. A quantitative analysis of the influencing degree of industrial structure and urbanization on haze pollution in China is conducted in this study to further investigate the mechanism that influences haze pollution in China. A panel data regression model of Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2013 is established; haze pollution degree is regarded as an explained variable, and industrial structure and urbanization are regarded as explanatory variables. In the model, three control variables are introduced: gross regional domestic product and dummy variable of financial crisis and trade openness. Measurements and calculations are conducted on national and regional scales, and the regions are divided into coastal and inland regions to determine the degree of influence of industrial structures and urbanization level in these regions on haze pollution. Results show that industrial structure has a positive correlation with haze pollution, that is, increasing the proportion of industries in GDP, aggravates the degree of haze pollution and promoting urbanization has a positive influence on haze pollution. Gross regional domestic product has an obvious negative correlation with haze pollution, whereas the dummy variables of financial crisis and trade openness evidently have a positive correlation with haze pollution. The higher the urbanization level is, the greater the influence of industrial structure on haze pollution. The more unreasonable the industrial structure is, the greater the influence of urbanization on haze pollution. The positive effects of both industrial structure and urbanization on haze pollution in coastal regions are greater than those in inland regions. Hence, such methods as optimizing the industrial structure and controlling haze pollution in the process of accelerating urbanization and forming a collaborative and linkage effect mechanism between regions could realize the harmonious development of the economy, society, and environment.