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Blinded by the Light: Economic Analysis of Severe Light Pollution

Author

Listed:
  • Terrel A. Gallaway

    (Missouri State University)

  • Reed Neil Olsen

    (Missouri State University)

  • David M. Mitchell

    (Missouri State University)

Abstract

This paper examines severe light pollution such as commonly found in large urban areas. Light pollution is the unintended negative consequences of poorly designed and injudiciously used artificial lighting. Light pollution generates significant costs including wasted energy and damage to human health, wildlife, recreation, and the beauty of the night sky. Typically, light-pollution models emphasize population density and ignore economic factors. Economic analysis of the issue has been singularly limited. Previous economic research has focused on widespread, but very low levels of light pollution. This paper makes a unique contribution by analyzing economic factors of severe light pollution. The paper utilizes economic data from the World Bank and unique remote sensing data for 184 countries to quantify the economic causes of severe light pollution. Fractional logit models confirm the importance of population and economic factors alike.

Suggested Citation

  • Terrel A. Gallaway & Reed Neil Olsen & David M. Mitchell, 2013. "Blinded by the Light: Economic Analysis of Severe Light Pollution," Journal of Economic Insight, Missouri Valley Economic Association, vol. 39(1), pages 45-63.
    • Handle: RePEc:mve:journl:v:39:y:2013:i:1:p:45-63
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    Cited by:

    1. Beaudet, Chloé & Tardieu, Léa & David, Maia, 2022. "Are citizens willing to accept changes in public lighting for biodiversity conservation?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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