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Air pollution and gender imbalance in labor supply responses: Evidence from South Korea

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  • Han, Ahram
  • Kim, Taejong
  • Ten, Gi Khan
  • Wang, Shun

Abstract

This study investigates whether and how air pollution affects the labor supply in South Korea. In order to plausibly estimate the causal impact, we utilize the fact that air pollution in South Korea is affected by spillovers from China, mediated by wind direction. The results show that mothers tend to reduce working hours in response to the worsening air quality, although the negative impact attenuates as their children age. Surprisingly, we found no labor supply reduction for fathers. The children's vulnerability to the air pollutants and the mothers' roles as principal caregivers were the probable drivers of the results. The implication of the findings is that abatement of air pollution can help address the gender imbalance in South Korea's labor market.

Suggested Citation

  • Han, Ahram & Kim, Taejong & Ten, Gi Khan & Wang, Shun, 2023. "Air pollution and gender imbalance in labor supply responses: Evidence from South Korea," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:124:y:2023:i:c:s0264999323001025
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2023.106290
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    Cited by:

    1. Ai, Hongshan & Zhou, Zhengqing, 2023. "Green growth: The impact of urban forest construction on economic growth in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air pollution; Transboundary spillovers; Labor supply; Caregiving; Gender imbalance; South Korea;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • 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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