Work

Effect of Environmental Regulation on Performance of Water Environmental Governance: From the Perspective of Formal and Informal Environmental Regulation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Developing high-quality regional integration requires a good-quality water environment. In this study, the impact of formal and informal environmental regulation (FIER) on water environment governance performance (WEP) is examined using a fixed-effects model and spatial Durbin model with a panel data sample of 281 cities from 2011 to 2022. It is found that (i) there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between FIER and WEP, which is first promoted and then inhibited and remains significant after endogeneity exploration and multiple robustness tests; (ii) the pressure of economic growth has weakened this elationship, while the digital economy has strengthened it; and (iii) further analysis reveals that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the local and spillover effects of FIER on WEP. Therefore, WEP can be improved by dynamically adjusting the intensity of FIER, optimizing the appraisal orientation of local governments, and accelerating the integration of digital economy and environmental governance

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w18020279

Authors: Yiwei Wang, Wenke Zhang, Yijing Weng, Debao Wang, Liheng Chen

Institution: Zhejiang University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137