China Policy Journal Volume 1, Number 1, Fall 2018 | Page 17

China Policy Journal
Figure 1. Total pollutant discharge-fee collection in China
(Source: China Statistical Year Book)
sponds to the country’s economic development
and transition in industrial
structure. With gradual economic recovery,
the revenue increased to reach
another peak at 20.48 billion RMB in
2013 (Figure 1).
Data on the water-pollutant discharge
fee collected within the total
pollution fee reveals more information
(Figure 2). Before 2003, the water-pollutant
discharge-fee revenue increased
at a stable rate, as it is collected under
the single-factor charging principle and
not many types of pollutants are defined
in the standard. The promulgation of
the 2003 regulation completely altered
the collection and the revenues from
the fee increased to three times higher
than ever before, reaching their peak
in 2007. Economic factors can lead enterprises’
productivity to drop, as well
as the wastewater-discharge amount
and the fee. In general, the water-pollutant-discharge
revenue is doubled
after the pollutant’s equivalent charge,
but with more exposed the revenue issues.
As shown, the water-pollutant
fee accounted for over 50% of the total
pollutant-discharge fee. Theoretically,
the actual water-pollutant fee amount
should lie far from the total pollution
fee amount. However, neither the water-pollutant
discharge fee nor the total
pollution fee was fully collected. Regulations
do help to promote fee collection,
but implementation without supervision
contributes to the fee breach
and absence of revenue management.
3.2. Assessment on Pollution Control
The results of the water-pollutant discharge-fee
system are demonstrated
by pollution control. Before the system
was implemented, the wastewater-discharge
amount increased rapidly without
charge. The situation was curbed
and further deterioration was avoided
since with promulgation of the temporary
regulation. Subsequently, the
wastewater discharge surged in line
with the boost in economic growth,
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