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Low Emission Zones Improve Air Quality and Health but Temporarily Decrease Life Satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Luis Sarmiento
  • Nicole Wägner
  • Aleksandar Zaklan

Abstract

Air pollution results in high economic costs arising from its negative impacts on human health, especially in urban areas. Driving restriction policies such as low emission zones (LEZs) are designed to improve air quality. Indeed, empirical analyses in this Weekly Report confirm that LEZs reduce traffic-related air pollution. However, the analyses also reveal unintended adverse effects on secondary contaminants like ozone and on air pollution in adjacent areas. New evidence based on data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) shows that LEZs temporarily decrease their residents’ life satisfaction despite positive health impacts. The magnitude of the decline depends on personal life circumstances: For example, there are stronger adverse effects on life satisfaction of diesel vehicle owners and people younger than 65. The results of this study suggest that mobility restrictions and the associated adjustment costs reduce policy acceptance. More effectively communicating the health advantages of LEZs to the population or utilizing transfer mechanisms such as public transport vouchers could mitigate these effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis Sarmiento & Nicole Wägner & Aleksandar Zaklan, 2022. "Low Emission Zones Improve Air Quality and Health but Temporarily Decrease Life Satisfaction," DIW Weekly Report, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 12(13), pages 99-106.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwdwr:dwr12-13-1
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    File URL: https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.838206.de/dwr-22-13-1.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Thea Xenia Wiesli & Wojtek Przepiorka, 2023. "Does Living in a Protected Area Reduce Resource Use and Promote Life Satisfaction? Survey Results from and Around Three Regional Nature Parks in Switzerland," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 341-364, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Low emission zones; air quality; well-being; health; difference-in-differences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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