Are Local Government Pollution Emissions "Free Riding"?

With the constant prominence of pollution in China,transboundary pollution has gradually become one of the most serious environmental problems.With further research,transboundary pollution is no longer considered a simple accident,but also with the local government's strategic behavior of free-riding.By arranging polluting enterprises at the border,the upstream provinces shifted the responsibility of pollution control along with rivers to the downstream provinces.This not only eliminated the pollution control willing of upstream province,but also impaired the long-term pollution at the border.Based on the empirical research methods and the pollutant emission data of China counties from 2003 to 201 2,this paper assesses the extent and characteristic of river transboundary pollution in China.At the same time,it analyzes the policies related to the transboundary pollution control Conducted a policy analysis.The main conclusions are as follows:i.Transboundary pollution of rivers is prevalent in China.From 2003 to 2012,"free riding" behavior increased up to 56.2%?72.3%of the COD discharge and up to 49.1%of the industrial wastewater discharge in border counties of the upstream provinces.ii.In addition to leading to an increase in water pollutant emissions,the spatial distribution of industrial enterprises in the upstream provinces has also changed.There are fewer industrial enterprises in border counties of the upstream provinces.But the total output value of enterprises and COD emissions are even higher.The results show the upstream provinces are more likely to place their large enterprises at the border.iii.MEP's "Guidance on Preventing and Handling Inter-provincial Water Pollution Disputes" has achieved remarkable results in the control of transboundary water pollution.Policies are fully implemented in 2009,China's transboundary water pollution problems have been significantly improved at this time;In 2009 and 2010,COD emissions from transboundary pollution were reduced by 55.9%and 66.1%respectively.After 2009,China's provincial water transboundary pollution is no longer significant.Through empirical research methods,this study quantitatively analyzes the phenomena and characteristics of transboundary pollution that existed in China,and evaluated the effects of relevant policies.Based on the hazards and features of transboundary pollution,China's environmental regulation and supervision should focus on the issue of transboundary pollution caused by the "free riding" behavior of local governments,and adhere to and implement the legislation and law enforcement requirements of "Guidance on Preventing and Handling Inter-provincial Water Pollution Disputes",and actively carry out atmospheric transboundary pollution research and policy development.