But, before the commemorations, the government had prohibited many cars from driving (based on their license-plate numbers), stopped selected factories from operating, and forced some firms to move out of the city temporarily. This approach – which could be pursued only within a centrally planned economy like China’s – provided temporary relief.
当然，10年前中国已经有空气污染问题。但在纪念活动前，政府已禁止许多机动车上路行驶（按照车牌号码）、阻止特定的工厂开工并迫使某些企业临时搬出市区。这样的做法只可能在中国这样实行中央计划的经济体中出现——暂时缓解了空气质量问题。但这样做最终好处甚微；事实上，掩盖问题可能会推迟有效的行动。