JAUE2022-055: Does Urban Living Experience Affect Willingness to Pay for Clean Air? A study based on China General Social Survey

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated the positive impact of urbanization on reducing environmental pressure from the perspective of urbanization affecting pro-environmental behavior. Urban residents have a higher awareness of environmental protection than rural residents. People living in a city have less agreement with the air quality. This study is mainly a discussion of the willingness to pay for clean air, varying from having an urban living experience or not. This study discusses a particular context in China because farmers do not leave their hometowns and go to the cities but do not have urban hukou benefits. To identify the differences in the willingness to pay for clean air among people with urban living experiences. This study conducts empirical tests based on the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data. The resulting logistic model is statistically significant, city living experience is related to the willingness to pay for clean air, and people with city living experience are 1.2 times more willing to pay for clean air than people without urban living experience. The model is more accurate at predicting the willingness to pay by people with urban living experience, so the mechanism behind this needs to be further studied