The happiness effect of Chinese ecological civilization construction: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment

• Published in: Environment, development and sustainability Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 17069 - 17082
• Main Authors: Li, Jun, Xie, Han-Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.07.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Civilization; Construction; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Economic Geology; Economic Growth; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Management; Environmental policy; Happiness; Health status; Heterogeneity; Policies; Psychological factors; Regional variations; Sustainable Development; Well being; China; Resident happiness; Ecological civilization construction; Health effects; Economic effects; Migration effect
• ISSN: 1573-2975; 1387-585X; 1573-2975
• DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03326-6

The role of environment in promoting happiness has been well known, but the impact of the government’s ecological environment policy on residents’ happiness remains to be explored. This paper uses the first batch of pilot policies for the construction of eco-civilized cities in China (Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guizhou) as a quasi-natural experiment to empirically study the impact of ecological civilization construction in China on residents’ subjective well-being. Using the data from the China Household Finance Survey and difference in difference method, we find that Chinese ecological civilization construction has significantly improved the happiness of local residents. Mechanism analysis shows that the “happiness effect” mechanism of Chinese ecological civilization construction by improving household income, health level, and the living environment of residents. In addition, the “happiness effect” of Chinese ecological civilization construction shows group heterogeneity, and ecological civilization construction plays a larger role in promoting the well-being of residents of low-asset families, urban families, and families that own their own houses. Finally, the “happiness effect” of Chinese ecological civilization construction shows regional heterogeneity, and the construction of ecological civilization has a more striking effect on improving the well-being of residents in Jiangxi province and Guizhou province. According to the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first to study the impact of China’s macroeconomic environmental policies on residents’ happiness, and the present study contributes to the research on residents’ happiness.