Transport Infrastructure, High-Quality Development and Industrial Pollution: Fresh Evidence from China

To achieve high-quality development, transport infrastructure will play a crucial role in China’s economic growth, but its damage to the ecological environment has not been paid enough attention. This study was based on panel data for 30 Chinese provinces for the period of 2004–2017. A comprehensive index system for high-quality development based on the new development concept was developed. This high-quality development index used the entropy weight method and integrated transport infrastructure, high-quality development, and industrial pollution into a comprehensive framework, and systematically examined the effects of transport infrastructure and high-quality development on industrial pollution emissions. It was found that transport infrastructure significantly contributed to industrial pollution emissions, and there was a regional heterogeneity and time lag, with high-quality development and industrial pollution having an inverted “U”-shaped relationship. Further analysis showed that transport infrastructure significantly affected high-quality development and industrial pollution through industrial agglomeration, reduced the inhibitory effect on high-quality development by promoting industrial agglomeration, and reduced industrial pollution emissions by promoting industrial agglomeration.