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Air pollution and worker productivity

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew Neidell

    (Columbia University, USA, and IZA, Germany)

  • Nico Pestel

    (Maastricht University, the Netherlands)

Abstract

Environmental regulations are typically considered to be a drag on the economy. However, improved environmental quality may actually enhance productivity by creating a healthier workforce. Evidence suggests that improvements in air quality lead to improvements in worker productivity at the micro level across a range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and the service sectors, as well as at more aggregate macro levels. These effects also arise at levels of air quality that are below pollution thresholds in countries with the highest levels of environmental regulation. The findings suggest a new approach for understanding the consequences of environmental regulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Neidell & Nico Pestel, 2023. "Air pollution and worker productivity," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 363-363, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2023:n:363
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    2. Yang, Yefei & Wang, Ziwei & Dong, Ciwei & Cheng, T.C.E., 2024. "How does heavy haze weather impact operational efficiency? An empirical study of Chinese manufacturing firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    3. Cook, Nikolai & Heyes, Anthony, 2022. "Pollution pictures: Psychological exposure to pollution impacts worker productivity in a large-scale field experiment," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    4. Naidenova, Iuliia & Parshakov, Petr & Suvorov, Sergei, 2022. "Air pollution and individual productivity: Evidence from the Ironman Triathlon results," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    5. Filomena, Mattia & Picchio, Matteo, 2024. "Unsafe temperatures, unsafe jobs: The impact of weather conditions on work-related injuries," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 851-875.
    6. Malvina Bondy & Sefi Roth & Lutz Sager, 2020. "Crime Is in the Air: The Contemporaneous Relationship between Air Pollution and Crime," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 7(3), pages 555-585.
    7. Bianca Blum & Bernhard K. J. Neumärker, 2021. "Lessons from Globalization and the COVID-19 Pandemic for Economic, Environmental and Social Policy," World, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-26, June.
    8. Felix Holub & Laura Hospido & Ulrich J. Wagner, 2020. "Urban air pollution and sick leaves: evidence from social security data," Working Papers 2041, Banco de España.
    9. Philip Kofi Adom & Franklin Amuakwa-Mensah & Salome Amuakwa-Mensah, 2020. "Degree of financialization and energy efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa: do institutions matter?," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, December.
    10. Sager, Lutz, 2019. "Estimating the effect of air pollution on road safety using atmospheric temperature inversions," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    11. Cong Sun & Siqi Zheng & Jianghao Wang & Matthew E. Kahn, 2019. "Does clean air increase the demand for the consumer city? Evidence from Beijing," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(3), pages 409-434, June.
    12. Ahmad, Husnain F. & Gibson, Matthew & Nadeem, Fatiq & Nasim, Sanval & Rezaee, Arman, 2022. "Forecasts: Consumption, Production, and Behavioral Responses," IZA Discussion Papers 15831, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Klingen, Joris & van Ommeren, Jos, 2020. "Urban air pollution and time losses: Evidence from cyclists in London," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    air pollution; worker productivity; environmental policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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