Socio-economic factors on haze pollution: based on panel data of 30 provinces in China

Since Reform and Opening-up, China's economy has been developing rapidly and per capita GDP has been raising. However, along with the rapid development of the economy, the problem of air pollution such as haze becomes increasingly serious, which has seriously affected the health of residents and the sustainable development of the economy. In this paper, we adopt spatial econometrics to explore the relationship between socio-economic factors and haze pollution. Firstly, there is significant spatial autocorrelation in haze pollution. Secondly, population, coal consumption and urbanization have positive and significant impacts on haze pollution. In this regard, governments should coordinate economic growth with environmental protection, balance the relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution.