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The economics of global light pollution

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  • Gallaway, Terrel
  • Olsen, Reed N.
  • Mitchell, David M.

Abstract

This paper is the first analysis of the economic factors of global light pollution. Light pollution commonly refers to excessive or obtrusive artificial light caused by bad lighting design. Light pollution generates significant costs including negative impacts on wildlife, health, astronomy, and wasted energy--which in the U.S. amounts to nearly 7Â billion dollars annually. Current scientific models of light pollution are purely population based. The current paper utilizes unique remote sensing data and economic data from the World Bank to quantify the economic causes of light pollution globally. Fractional logit models show that, similar to other types of pollution, both population and GDP are significant explanatory variables.

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  • Gallaway, Terrel & Olsen, Reed N. & Mitchell, David M., 2010. "The economics of global light pollution," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 658-665, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:69:y:2010:i:3:p:658-665
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    6. Reed N. Olsen & Terrel Gallaway & David Mitchell, 2014. "Modelling US light pollution," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(6), pages 883-903, June.
    7. Dr. Cesar R Salas-Guerra, 2021. "Impact of digital economic activity on regional economic growth: A Case study from northern Minas Gerais between 2009 To 2018," Papers 2105.02849, arXiv.org.
    8. Yongguang Zhu & Deyi Xu & Saleem H. Ali & Ruiyang Ma & Jinhua Cheng, 2019. "Can Nighttime Light Data Be Used to Estimate Electric Power Consumption? New Evidence from Causal-Effect Inference," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-14, August.
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    12. Kienast, Felix & Frick, Jacqueline & van Strien, Maarten J. & Hunziker, Marcel, 2015. "The Swiss Landscape Monitoring Program – A comprehensive indicator set to measure landscape change," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 295(C), pages 136-150.
    13. Steinkraus, Arne, 2016. "Investigating the Carbon Leakage Effect on the Environmental Kuznets Curve Using Luminosity Data," EconStor Preprints 126084, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    14. Annika K. Jägerbrand, 2020. "Synergies and Trade-Offs Between Sustainable Development and Energy Performance of Exterior Lighting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-27, May.
    15. Alina Svechkina & Tamar Trop & Boris A. Portnov, 2020. "How Much Lighting is Required to Feel Safe When Walking Through the Streets at Night?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    16. Karolina M. Zielińska-Dabkowska & Kyra Xavia & Katarzyna Bobkowska, 2020. "Assessment of Citizens’ Actions against Light Pollution with Guidelines for Future Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-32, June.
    17. Krzysztof Skarżyński & Wojciech Żagan, 2022. "Quantitative Assessment of Architectural Lighting Designs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, March.
    18. Liangkun Fang & Zhangjie Wu & Yuan Tao & Jinfeng Gao, 2023. "Light Pollution Index System Model Based on Markov Random Field," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-18, July.
    19. Xueting Jin & Yu Li & Jinzhou Zhang & Ji Zheng & Huiping Liu, 2017. "An Approach to Evaluating Light Pollution in Residential Zones: A Case Study of Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-12, April.
    20. Domenico Campisi & Simone Gitto & Donato Morea, 2017. "Light Emitting Diodes Technology in Public Light System of the Municipality of Rome: An Economic and Financial Analysis," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 7(1), pages 200-208.
    21. Tran Quang, Tuyen, 2014. "Determinants of nonfarm participation among ethnic minorities in the Northwest Mountains, Vietnam," MPRA Paper 59158, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 08 Oct 2014.

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