DETERMINANTS OF INDUSTRIAL RESIDUALS - GENERATION AND TREATMENT - EVIDENCE FROM CHINESE CITIES

Environmental degradation in China has become a serious problem of sub stantial magnitude. This paper examines the impact of economic and dem ographic variables on generation and treatment of four classes of poll uting residuals from industrial production in China. Statistical analy sis of 1991 data for 479 cities reveals that aggregate industrial outp ut measures and sector-specific shares perform well in explaining aggr egate flows of industrial wastes. Cities with higher per capita GDP tr eat larger fractions of all residuals classes and show lower productio n of gaseous and solid residuals. Population density is positively cor related with three residual flows and with efforts to control industri al dust. Finally, treatment correlates strongly with the share of GDP arising from the industrial and construction sectors. (C) 1998 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.