Environmental Satisfaction among Residents in Chinese Cities

In recent years, the deterioration of the environment has become a top concern in China. This paper investigates the factors that influence the satisfaction of urban residents with the local air and water quality in Chinese cities by using a unique dataset collected through an interview survey with about 25,000 participants. The study shows that a respondent’s true rating could be systematically different from her stated choice in the survey. Empirical results reveal that respondents have a tendency to underreport their level of satisfaction. In addition, a respondent’s true level of satisfaction is more likely to be lower if the individual is male and younger. Educational attainment is also correlated with a respondent’s level of satisfaction.