Has land resource misallocation increased air pollution in Chinese cities?

Abstract As a fundamental production factor for economic development, rational land allocation is not only relevant to economic development but also an important factor affecting urban air pollution. In this paper, 284 cities in China were selected as samples to analyze the impact of land resource misallocation on air pollution and the underlying mechanisms. The findings are as follows: First, land resources misallocation increases urban air pollution. Second, land resources misallocation inhibits technological innovation, government technology investment and foreign direct investment, thereby increasing local air pollution. Third, the impact of land resources misallocation on air pollution is affected by heterogeneous conditions such as geographic region, city type, and city size. Finally, based on the air pollution caused by land resources misallocation, local governments should not only optimize the land supply structure but also improve the environment for technological innovation and investment.