SMOG POLLUTION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FAMILY FINANCIAL BURDEN: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA.

Using Chinese provincial data from 2008 to 2022, this study constructs a spatial panel data model to empirically analyze the impact of smog pollution on family financial burden, and public health's moderating effect on this relationship and the regional heterogeneity of this moderating effect. The results show that after controlling the economic development, human capital, environmental regulation, and other provincial variables, smog pollution significantly positively (negatively) affects family financial burden (public health). Furthermore, public health partially mediates the relationship between smog pollution and family financial burden. Thus, the impact of smog pollution on family financial burden can be partially realized through public health. Regionally, the impact of smog pollution on family financial burden in central and western China is higher than that in eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]