Can China’s Ecologically Civilized Environmental Policy (ECEP) Have a Positive Spillover Effect on Pro-Environmental Behavior? Evidence from the Chinese General Social Survey (2021) Data

Abstract

Based on the newly released 2023 Chinese General Social Survey data from Renmin University of China, this paper selected 869 Ecological Civilization Pilot Area participants. Study 1 explored the impact of China’s Ecological Civilization Environmental Policy (ECEP) on the spillover effects of pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). Study 2 explored the effects of three types of environmental policy instruments on public value conflicts and PEBs. The results of Study 1 indicate that China’s ECEP has positive spillover effects on both private and public-sphere PEBs. Private-sphere PEBs mediate the relationship between ECEP and public-sphere PEBs, and ECEP has “cross sphere” spillover effects on PEBs (private-sphere PEBs to public-sphere PEBs). Public value conflict moderates the relationship between ECEP and private-sphere PEBs. In Study 2, the results showed that the highest level of public value conflict was found in the economic incentive-instrument and the lowest level of public value conflict was found in the voluntary instrument. Whether public or private-sphere PEBs, voluntary versus command-instrument can better stimulate PEBs. Based on the study’s results, it is recommended to strengthen the interpretation of environmental policies, resolve public value conflicts, and promote public-sphere PEBs by fostering private-sphere PEBs, thus promoting the spillover effect of “cross-sphere” PEBs.