From Fog to Smog: The Value of Pollution Information
Panle Jia Barwick, Shanjun Li, Liguo Lin, Eric Yongchen Zou
American Economic Review · 2024 · Volume 114 · Issue 5
Abstract
In 2013, China launched a landmark program to monitor air quality and disclose real-time data, significantly increasing the public's access to and awareness of pollution information. The program triggered cascading behavioral changes such as stronger avoidance of outdoor pollution exposure and increased spending on protective products. These behavioral responses mitigated the mortality impact of air pollution. Conservative estimates indicate that the program's health benefits outweigh the costs by an order of magnitude. The findings highlight the benefits of improving public access to pollution information in developing countries which often experience severe air pollution but lack pollution data collection and dissemination.
Keywords
Search, Learning, Information and Knowledge, Communication, Belief, Unawareness, Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making, Health Behavior, Economic Development: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy, Environment, Other Primary Products, Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Natural Resources, Valuation of Environmental Effects, Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Noise, Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, Recycling
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