Regional environmental coordination and industrial enterprise pollution emission: empirical findings from China’s inter-provincial joint control policy

Introduction The boundary pollution effect, whereby high pollution levels persist in border regions, has emerged as a critical issue in ecological protection under fiscal decentralization, drawing increasing attention in academic research. Methods Using 1998–2012 data from the Chinese Industrial Enterprise Pollution Database, this study evaluates the effects of boundary pollution governance on micro-level pollution, particularly in light of the inter-provincial joint pollution prevention and control policy introduced in 2008. Results The analysis demonstrates that, following the implementation of the policy, industrial firms significantly reduce their pollutant discharges, indicating its effectiveness in mitigating boundary pollution. Mechanism analysis reveals a decline in the establishment of new polluting firms in border regions and an increase in the use of circulating water by existing firms, contributing to improved pollution control outcomes. Further investigation into regional heterogeneity shows that regions with greater economic growth pressure experience more substantial reductions in discharges after policy implementation. State-owned enterprises also exhibit a stronger response. Discussion These findings underscore that excessive discharges from border firms are a key contributor to boundary pollution, and the inter-provincial joint policy has proven effective for addressing this issue.