The so-called environmental transition contends that as nations become more prosperous, they tend to invest more in keeping the environment clean. But is there any evidence this theory is true? Well according to the free market group PERC, the nation of China might prove to be one such example. Recently the ancient city of Xianyang, home to China’s first emperor, just began operating a new sewage disposal facility on a tributary of the Yellow River. The new $37 million U.S. factory will treat tons of city sewage per day – something that hasn’t gone on for thousands of years. And what’s the reason? Well it’s China’s booming economy, remarks PERC, which now has the dollars to invest in such important environmental technologies.