The Political Regulation Wave: A Case of How Local Incentives Systematically Shape Air Quality in China (Cambridge Studies on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance)

Shen, Shiran Victoria

ISBN 10: 1009107097 / ISBN 13: 9781009107099

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2022

About this Item

Seller Inventory # V9781009107099

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Political Regulation Wave: A Case of How Local Incentives Systematically Shape Air Quality in China (Cambridge Studies on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1009107097
• ISBN 13: 9781009107099
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Why has there been uneven success in reducing air pollution even in the same locality over time? This book offers an innovative theorization of how local political incentives can affect bureaucratic regulation. Using empirical evidence, it examines and compares the control of different air pollutants in China-an autocracy-and, to a lesser extent, Mexico-a democracy. Making use of new data, approaches, and techniques across political science, environmental sciences, and engineering, Shen reveals that local leaders and politicians are incentivized to cater to the policy preferences of their superiors or constituents, respectively, giving rise to varying levels of regulatory stringency during the leaders' tenures. Shen demonstrates that when ambiguity dilutes regulatory effectiveness, having the right incentives and enhanced monitoring is insufficient for successful policy implementation. Vividly explaining key phenomena through anecdotes and personal interviews, this book identifies new causes of air pollution and proposes timely solutions. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

"One of the Best New Regulation Books To Read In 2023" - BookAuthority

About the Author

Shiran Victoria Shen is a senior research scholar and a visiting assistant professor at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, where she leads the development of the China Energy Program.  Her research explores the intersections of political science, public policy, environmental sciences, and engineering, with a particular interest in how local politics influence environmental governance.