Cultural Constraints and Policy Implementation
Effects of the Beijing License Plate Lottery on the Environment
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12802496 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Amy H Liu (0000-0001-5380-2849, corresponding author), Edmund J Malesky (0000-0001-5737-9195) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 91-126 |
| Publication date | 2024-01-22 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Quarterly Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1554-0626 • E-ISSN: 1554-0634 |
| Publisher | Now Publishers (PUBLISHER • NL) |
| DOI | 10.1561/100.00022015 |
| OpenAlex | W4391112407 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
Can culture constrain policy implementation — and if so, under what conditions and for whom? In this paper, we test to what extent traditional values of numerology in China impeded the environmental benefits of a well-designed license plate policy. We take advantage of two natural experiments in Beijing. First, in 2008 authorities began limiting cars on the road by restricting specific plate numbers each day. Second, in 2011 authorities introduced a lottery policy-making it difficult to obtain any plate. We find that (1) non-traditionalists abandoned cultural norms, accepted non-lucky plate numbers, and switched to newer, greener vehicles, whereas (2) traditionalists — fearing the loss of their lucky plate numbers — held on to their older pollutant-emitting cars. We test our argument using a CO readings dataset, a Beijing driver survey, and a license plate image database. We find strong evidence that emissions were lower when lucky numbers were restricted, and the pattern strengthened gradually over time
Beijing · Business · China · Economics · License · Lottery · Microeconomics · Political science · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Law
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The effect of Beijing's driving restrictions on pollution and economic activity
Understanding Cultural Persistence and Change
The Evolution of Culture and Institutions
Changing environmentally harmful behaviors
Reasoning the fast and frugal way
Cross‐Cultural Differences in Mental Representations of Time
How Institutions Evolve
Constant carbon pricing increases support for climate action compared to ramping up costs over time
Theology on the Menu
The Origin and Evolution of Cultures
Informal Institutions and Comparative Politics
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Development of a Chinese Superstitious Belief Scale
Culture and the Historical Process
An Equilibrium Alternative to the Study of Culture
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The Effect of Driving Restrictions on Air Quality in Mexico City
A Theory of Fads, Fashion, Custom, and Cultural Change as Informational Cascades
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The theory of human development
Language Shapes People's Time Perspective and Support for Future‐Oriented Policies
Interests, Norms and Support for the Provision of Global Public Goods
Ending Footbinding and Infibulation
Linguistic Origins of Gender Equality and Women's Rights
Making Sense of Culture
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |