Using a large, unique county-level panel dataset for China from 1998 to 2006, this paper investigates the relationship between local governments ＇fiscal pressure and their preference for developing polluting industr...Using a large, unique county-level panel dataset for China from 1998 to 2006, this paper investigates the relationship between local governments ＇fiscal pressure and their preference for developing polluting industries. The results show that there exist fiscal pressure effects; namely, a positive link between the fiscal pressure faced by a county and its industrial tax dependence on polluting industries. We also investigate the heterogeneity of the fiscal pressure effects and find that fiscal pressure effects are significant only when local fiscal pressure is sufficiently high up to a certain point, and when there are more earmarked transfers. In contrast to the situation in east China, fiscal pressure effects in central and west China are more pronounced Therefore, when dealing with environmental problems, policy-makers need to take local governments＇ fiscal conditions into account.展开更多
The Local Debt Management System Reform,introduced in 2014 and implemented in subsequent years,was a key initiative by the Chinese government to mitigate local government debt risks.Using its implementation as a natur...The Local Debt Management System Reform,introduced in 2014 and implemented in subsequent years,was a key initiative by the Chinese government to mitigate local government debt risks.Using its implementation as a natural experiment,this study examined its impact on corporate tax burdens.The results indicated that tighter debt constraints significantly increased corporate tax burdens,as local governments intensified tax collection to offset reduced debt-related revenue.This effect was stronger in areas that were reliant on land financing and less economically developed.Further analysis revealed that,rather than reducing expenditure,local governments sought alternative revenue sources,including urban investment bonds,land transfer income,and public-private partnership projects.These findings illuminate local fiscal behavior under debt constraint and provide insights for the design of institutional frameworks aiming to manage local debt risks.展开更多
Along with China's urbanization,the spatial redistribution of the country's population has led to difficulties for local governance,especially in areas experiencing population outflows.Municipal amalgamation i...Along with China's urbanization,the spatial redistribution of the country's population has led to difficulties for local governance,especially in areas experiencing population outflows.Municipal amalgamation is an ffctive response.This study uses administrative system code data that are accurate at the community and village level to verify the causal relationship between migration and village or community municipal amalgamation.It shows that migration has been an important reason for municipal amalgamation.Counties with greater population outflow have experienced more frequent amalgamation,manifesting a decrease in the numbers of villages and communities.This study,also examined the consequences of this amalgamation,finding that it can significantly alleviate local governments'fiscal pressures and promote public services in the long term.It is of great importance for improving the grassroots governance of population outflow areas during rapid urbanization in China.展开更多
文摘Using a large, unique county-level panel dataset for China from 1998 to 2006, this paper investigates the relationship between local governments ＇fiscal pressure and their preference for developing polluting industries. The results show that there exist fiscal pressure effects; namely, a positive link between the fiscal pressure faced by a county and its industrial tax dependence on polluting industries. We also investigate the heterogeneity of the fiscal pressure effects and find that fiscal pressure effects are significant only when local fiscal pressure is sufficiently high up to a certain point, and when there are more earmarked transfers. In contrast to the situation in east China, fiscal pressure effects in central and west China are more pronounced Therefore, when dealing with environmental problems, policy-makers need to take local governments＇ fiscal conditions into account.
文摘The Local Debt Management System Reform,introduced in 2014 and implemented in subsequent years,was a key initiative by the Chinese government to mitigate local government debt risks.Using its implementation as a natural experiment,this study examined its impact on corporate tax burdens.The results indicated that tighter debt constraints significantly increased corporate tax burdens,as local governments intensified tax collection to offset reduced debt-related revenue.This effect was stronger in areas that were reliant on land financing and less economically developed.Further analysis revealed that,rather than reducing expenditure,local governments sought alternative revenue sources,including urban investment bonds,land transfer income,and public-private partnership projects.These findings illuminate local fiscal behavior under debt constraint and provide insights for the design of institutional frameworks aiming to manage local debt risks.
基金the China Merchants Foundation Young Scholar Funding Program“Research on Contemporary Chinese Social Governance"project.Ning Jia appreciates the National Science Foundation(No.72073094)for research funding.Huiyong Zhong appreciates research funding from the Center for Modern Finance Research,Shanghai Jiaotong University.
文摘Along with China's urbanization,the spatial redistribution of the country's population has led to difficulties for local governance,especially in areas experiencing population outflows.Municipal amalgamation is an ffctive response.This study uses administrative system code data that are accurate at the community and village level to verify the causal relationship between migration and village or community municipal amalgamation.It shows that migration has been an important reason for municipal amalgamation.Counties with greater population outflow have experienced more frequent amalgamation,manifesting a decrease in the numbers of villages and communities.This study,also examined the consequences of this amalgamation,finding that it can significantly alleviate local governments'fiscal pressures and promote public services in the long term.It is of great importance for improving the grassroots governance of population outflow areas during rapid urbanization in China.
