Assessing the impact of mechanism of green public consumption policy on environmental equity: evidence from China

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of the mechanism of green public consumption policy on environmental equity and provides a feasible reference for the rational formulation of corresponding policies for China. Establish a mediation effect model using the stepwise regression and bootstrap analysis method, this study explores the direct and indirect effects of fiscal expenditure intensity on environmental equity. The results revealed that increasing fiscal expenditure on energy conservation and environmental protection cannot directly and significantly affect environmental equity, but it has a significant indirect positive impact on environmental equality through fiscal decentralization. It is also found that the impact of green public consumption policy on environmental equity varies in the eastern, central and western parts of China. Our findings indicated that the expenditure of energy conservation and environmental protection indirectly affects environmental equity through fiscal decentralization. The willingness of the government to protect the environment regulates the impact of green public consumption policies on environmental equity. The phenomenon of feeding the east from the west of resources and environment is obvious. According to the characteristics of regional development, we should formulate energy conservation and environmental protection policies and adjust the direction of policies to promote regional environmental equity.