Can Economy and Environment Develop at the Same Time? A Mixed-method Study based on the Case of Yibin, China

Abstract

It is commonly known that developing countries typically develop their economy at the cost of the environment. However, it is evident that Yibin, a Chinese city, has been rapidly developing its economy while improving its environmental conditions in the past five years. This study aims to identify the factors contributing to Yibin's unique situation. Using a mixed-method approach-documentary analysis, Qualitative Comparitive Analysis Matrix, and process tracing-we identified three factors causing the dual-improvement for Yibin’s case. The three explanations are: Yibin is a less-developed economy, compared to the Chinese average; Yibin focuses on the secondary sector in terms of industrial structure; and Yibin allocates a larger proportion of its government spending to public goods. Since the economic conditions and focus on industrial structure are inherent factors, we suggest referencing the transition to green energy and the emphasis on public good funding for achieving similar environmental success. For further studies, we propose an expansion on the timeframe or the perspective for factors that we did not cover, analyzing Yibin beyond a five-year scope and incorporating cultural and political factors.