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Energy Boom and Gloom? Local Effects of Oil and Natural Gas Drilling on Subjective Well-Being

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  • Karen Maguire

    (Oklahoma State University)

  • John V. Winters

    (Oklahoma State University)

Abstract

The United States experienced a considerable increase in oil and natural gas extraction in recent years due to technological advancements including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Increased energy development likely creates both benefits and costs, but the net effects for local residents are not well understood. This paper examines effects of conventional and horizontal oil and natural gas drilling in Texas on subjective assessments of life-satisfaction and bad mental health days for nearby residents. Horizontal drilling has statistically significant deleterious effects on well-being, but the effects are driven by the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area, an area with both very high levels of horizontal drilling and a large urban population.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Maguire & John V. Winters, 2016. "Energy Boom and Gloom? Local Effects of Oil and Natural Gas Drilling on Subjective Well-Being," Economics Working Paper Series 1607, Oklahoma State University, Department of Economics and Legal Studies in Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:okl:wpaper:1607
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    File URL: https://business.okstate.edu/site-files/docs/ecls-working-papers/OKSWPS1607.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Gadom Djal Gadom & Armand Mboutchouang Kountchou & Gbetoton Nad ge Ad le Djossou & Gilles Quentin Kane & Abdelkrim Araar, 2017. "The impact of oil exploitation on wellbeing in Chad," Working Papers PMMA 2017-06, PEP-PMMA.
    3. Karen Maguire & John V. Winters, 2017. "Satisfaction and Self-Employment: Do Women Benefit More from Being Their Own Boss?," Economics Working Paper Series 1713, Oklahoma State University, Department of Economics and Legal Studies in Business.
    4. John V. Winters & Zhengyu Cai & Karen Maguire & Shruti Sengupta, 2021. "Causal effects of the fracking boom on long‐term resident workers," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(2), pages 387-406, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy; Drilling; Well-being; Mental Health; Natural Gas;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General

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