The impact of Chinese foreign direct investment and environmental tax revenues on air degradation in Europe: a spatial regression approach, 2000–2020

This study analyzes air pollution through the effects of China’s FDI in 27 European countries over a 20-year period, with a focus on the impact of environmental tax revenues (ETRs) and the environmental context in China. The relationship is estimated through spatial regressions that account for the presence of air pollutants in neighboring countries. The findings suggest that China’s FDI in Europe does not contribute to air pollution but rather has a positive impact. The presence of environmental charges filters out non-polluting investments, which has a non-linear relationship with PM2.5 pollution rates. The study also concludes that air pollution is closely linked to the global environmental context, highlighting the positive effects of international agreements in the fight against climate change. Specifically, the study finds a link between China’s efforts to address its polluting activities and their impact on European air quality. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024.