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Three Measures of Environmental Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • James K. Boyce

    (Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Klara Zwickl

    (Department of Socio-Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business, and Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Michael Ash

    (Department of Economics and Center for Public Policy and Administration, University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Abstract

Using data on industrial air pollution exposure in the United States, we compute three measures of environmental inequality: the Gini coefficient of exposure, the ratio of median exposure of minorities to that of non-Hispanic whites, and the ratio of median exposure of poor households to that of non-poor households. Comparing inequalities!in states and Congressional districts, we find that relative rankings by the three measures vary considerably. We conclude that different measures of environmental inequality may be appropriate for different analytical purposes.

Suggested Citation

  • James K. Boyce & Klara Zwickl & Michael Ash, 2014. "Three Measures of Environmental Inequality," Working Papers Series 12, Institute for New Economic Thinking.
    • Handle: RePEc:thk:wpaper:12
    DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2638089
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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