The Effects of Neoliberalism and Trade Liberalization on China's Environment Over Time: A Macromarketing Perspective

摘要

Drawing on Kilbourne's expanded macromarketing model, this research tests the effects of neoliberalism and trade liberalization on a set of environmental outcomes, shedding light on the relationships between importing and exporting, national, non-national, and foreign investment, and environmental stringency on major polluting accidents, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and wind energy deployment in China. The results from a moderated, fixed-effects regression model of longitudinal province-level data indicate that neoliberal policies impact environmental performance, while being region specific, sensitive to ownership type, and bidirectional. Additionally, non-national investment and innovation level were positively related with a reduction in major polluting accidents, whereas national investment were positively associated with reducing SO2 emissions and increasing wind energy deployment. China's environmental policies, however, were found to catalyze pollution production in the landlocked central and underdeveloped western provinces. As such, policymakers and practitioners should adopt a stakeholder orientation, institute strict environmental regulations, and place community welfare and environmental stewardship above profits when encouraging economic growth.