Spatial Correlation and Influencing Factors of Environmental Regulation Intensity in China

In this study, we examined the spatial difference of environmental regulation intensity in 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) of China. It was found that there were significant differences in environmental regulation intensity in the four regions, with a decreasing trend of “west–central–northeast–east” on the whole. Applying the Theil index showed that intra-regional differences accounted for more than 85% of the overall differences in environmental regulation intensity. Goble Moran’s I index was used to verify the spatial correlation of China’s environmental regulation. It was found that the p-value of Goble Moran’s I index was less than 10% in 7 years from 2010 to 2019. It was verified that the environmental regulation intensity in China has had a spatial correlation. In addition, a positive spatial correlation between the environmental regulation intensity in each province was found, indicating that an increase in the environmental regulation intensity of one province will lead to an increase in the intensity of environmental regulation in neighboring provinces. Finally, through the construction of a spatial Markov model to test the spillover effect of environmental regulation intensity in China, it was found that the local environmental regulation intensity will change to different degrees when there are spatial differences in the intensity of environmental regulation in neighboring provinces. This research will be helpful for provincial governments to formulate appropriate environmental regulation targets based on regional characteristics, which is of great significance for China’s and other countries’ green economic development and other countries to solve the contradiction between environmental pollution and economic development.