Analysis of the Spatial Pattern Evolution and Influencing Factors of Pollution-intensive Industries: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

This study identifies 17 pollution-intensive industries (PII) by industrial pollution emission intensity and uses latitude and longitude data of 4,663,413 Chinese enterprises to explore the spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of PII in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). The result indicates that: First, PII quantity in YREB grew significantly with distinct phased growth differences. Second, the spatial distribution of PII showed prominent imbalance, presenting an east-west stepped-down pattern. water pollution-intensive industries as the core component of PII agglomeration. Third, PII exhibited a weak northeast-southwest migration trend over time, displaying a characteristic pattern of contraction followed by diffusion. Their spatial gravity center moved southwest, and layout favored socioeconomic advantages. Forth, three factors, namely institutions, traditional location and new economic geography, will have an impact on the agglomeration of PII in the YREB. Among them, the intensity of environmental regulations, green finance and opening up to the outside world have a negative inhibitory effect on the agglomeration of PII in the YREB, while labor supply and technological progress have a promoting effect. Moreover, these factors have obvious spatiotemporal heterogeneity.