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Most previous studies on comprehensive urban carrying capacity (UCC) have estimated UCC levels and comparatively analyzed the heterogeneity of the sample cities. Very few researchers have focused on the interaction effects between different categories of UCC based on synergetic theory. To fill this gap, we constructed a panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model to study 11 cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 2000 to 2016. The ultimate goal of this study is to improve comprehensive UCC levels by forming a virtuous circle of mutual reinforcement between the four types of carrying capacity. To do so, the interaction mechanisms of the four subsystems are examined. Results show that (a) only transportation and social carrying capacity had causality between them as per the Granger causality test; (b) all four carrying capacities can support themselves (i.e., the development of economic conditions helps to improve social carrying capacity and the improvement of social carrying capacity helps to improve environmental carrying capacity); and (c) both the four carrying capacities are mostly affected by their own fluctuations. Overall transportation carrying capacity is the most important driving force among the four subsystems that interact with each other; followed by economic carrying capacity, which has promotion effect on the social and environmental aspects; social carrying capacity poses impact on the environmental dimension but not vice versa. Policy suggestions and future research directions are highlighted in the final section. • The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is examined for 2000–2016. • The mean squared deviation and panel vector autoregressive methods are employed. • Transportation carrying capacity is the most significant driving force. • Economic carrying capacity could impact on social and environmental counterparts. • Social carrying capacity impact on environmental dimension but not the opposite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have examined the correlation between economic growth and air pollution, but few focuses on the nexus between environmental regulation and <2.5 μm (PM 2.5) fine particle matter. Using Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) and Spatial Two-stage Least Squares (2SLS) methods to analyze 277 Chinese cities over the period 2002–2010, this paper finds inverted U-shaped relationships between PM 2.5 concentration and formal/informal environmental regulations for the whole and eastern and western regions. By removing the depression year of 2008, regulation effect on pollution strengthened, indicating that the main task for local governments in crisis is to avoid GDP decline rather than official promotion. Further, green technological innovation and industrial structure optimization induced by environmental regulation is shown to be beneficial for haze pollution mitigation. Some policy recommendations are proposed in conclusion. • The Spatial Models are used to examine the effect of regulation on the PM 2.5 of 277 Chinese cities during 2002–2010. • An inverted U-shaped relationship is found for the nexus. • Eastern and western China generally has an inverted U-shaped relationship. • Technical innovation and industrial structure are confirmed to be important mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]