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Evaluating Efficiency‐Equality Tradeoffs for Mobile Source Control Strategies in an Urban Area

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  • Jonathan I. Levy
  • Susan L. Greco
  • Steven J. Melly
  • Neha Mukhi

Abstract

In environmental risk management, there are often interests in maximizing public health benefits (efficiency) and addressing inequality in the distribution of health outcomes. However, both dimensions are not generally considered within a single analytical framework. In this study, we estimate both total population health benefits and changes in quantitative indicators of health inequality for a number of alternative spatial distributions of diesel particulate filter retrofits across half of an urban bus fleet in Boston, Massachusetts. We focus on the impact of emissions controls on primary fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions, modeling the effect on PM2.5 concentrations and premature mortality. Given spatial heterogeneity in baseline mortality rates, we apply the Atkinson index and other inequality indicators to quantify changes in the distribution of mortality risk. Across the different spatial distributions of control strategies, the public health benefits varied by more than a factor of two, related to factors such as mileage driven per day, population density near roadways, and baseline mortality rates in exposed populations. Changes in health inequality indicators varied across control strategies, with the subset of optimal strategies considering both efficiency and equality generally robust across different parametric assumptions and inequality indicators. Our analysis demonstrates the viability of formal analytical approaches to jointly address both efficiency and equality in risk assessment, providing a tool for decisionmakers who wish to consider both issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan I. Levy & Susan L. Greco & Steven J. Melly & Neha Mukhi, 2009. "Evaluating Efficiency‐Equality Tradeoffs for Mobile Source Control Strategies in an Urban Area," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 34-47, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:29:y:2009:i:1:p:34-47
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01119.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Atkinson, Anthony B., 1970. "On the measurement of inequality," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 244-263, September.
    2. Kawachi, Ichiro & Kennedy, Bruce P., 1997. "The relationship of income inequality to mortality: Does the choice of indicator matter?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 45(7), pages 1121-1127, October.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kelly Maguire & Glenn Sheriff, 2011. "Comparing Distributions of Environmental Outcomes for Regulatory Environmental Justice Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Ellen S. Post & Anna Belova & Jin Huang, 2011. "Distributional Benefit Analysis of a National Air Quality Rule," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Onyemaechi C. Nweke, 2011. "A Framework for Integrating Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Chen, Zhiwei & Li, Xiaopeng, 2021. "Unobserved heterogeneity in transportation equity analysis: Evidence from a bike-sharing system in southern Tampa," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Theodore J. Mansfield & Daniel A. Rodriguez & Joseph Huegy & Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson, 2015. "The Effects of Urban Form on Ambient Air Pollution and Public Health Risk: A Case Study in Raleigh, North Carolina," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(5), pages 901-918, May.
    6. Scott Farrow, 2011. "Incorporating Equity in Regulatory and Benefit‐Cost Analysis Using Risk‐Based Preferences," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(6), pages 902-907, June.
    7. Sheena E. Martenies & Chad W. Milando & Guy O. Williams & Stuart A. Batterman, 2017. "Disease and Health Inequalities Attributable to Air Pollutant Exposure in Detroit, Michigan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, October.
    8. Sam Harper & Eric Ruder & Henry A. Roman & Amelia Geggel & Onyemaechi Nweke & Devon Payne-Sturges & Jonathan I. Levy, 2013. "Using Inequality Measures to Incorporate Environmental Justice into Regulatory Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-21, August.
    9. Glenn Sheriff & Kelly B. Maguire, 2020. "Health Risk, Inequality Indexes, and Environmental Justice," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(12), pages 2661-2674, December.
    10. Neal Fann & Henry A. Roman & Charles M. Fulcher & Mikael A. Gentile & Bryan J. Hubbell & Karen Wesson & Jonathan I. Levy, 2011. "Maximizing Health Benefits and Minimizing Inequality: Incorporating Local‐Scale Data in the Design and Evaluation of Air Quality Policies," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(6), pages 908-922, June.
    11. Erin T. Mansur & Glenn Sheriff, 2019. "Do Pollution Markets Harm Low Income and Minority Communities? Ranking Emissions Distributions Generated by California's RECLAIM Program," NBER Working Papers 25666, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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