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Can natural gas save lives? Evidence from the deployment of a fuel delivery system in a developing country

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  • Cesur, Resul
  • Tekin, Erdal
  • Ulker, Aydogan

Abstract

There has been a widespread displacement of coal by natural gas as space heating and cooking technology in Turkey in the last two decades, triggered by the deployment of natural gas networks. We examine the impact of this development on mortality among adults and the elderly by exploiting the variation in the timing of the deployment and the intensity of expansion of gas networks across provinces using data from 2001 to 2016. The results indicate that the expansion of natural gas has caused significant reductions in mortality among both adults and the elderly. These findings are supported by our auxiliary analysis, which demonstrates that the expansion of natural gas networks might have led to a significant improvement in air quality. Furthermore, we show that the mortality gains are primarily driven by reductions in cardio-respiratory deaths, which are more likely to be due to conditions caused or exacerbated by air pollution.

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  • Cesur, Resul & Tekin, Erdal & Ulker, Aydogan, 2018. "Can natural gas save lives? Evidence from the deployment of a fuel delivery system in a developing country," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 91-108.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:59:y:2018:i:c:p:91-108
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2018.03.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Cesur, Resul & Güneş, Pınar Mine & Tekin, Erdal & Ulker, Aydogan, 2017. "The value of socialized medicine: The impact of universal primary healthcare provision on mortality rates in Turkey," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 75-93.
    2. LaPlue, Lawrence D., 2022. "Environmental consequences of natural gas wellhead pricing deregulation," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    3. Huiying Chen & Shuyan Gu & Cangcang Jia & Hai Gu & Qinglin Xu & Zi Lin, 2023. "Effects of Household Clean Fuel Combustion on the Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly in Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Siyu Chen & Lingyun He, 2021. "Air Pollution and Medical Insurance: From a Health-Based Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-13, November.
    5. Zhe Michelle Dong & Han Lin Shang & Aaron Bruhn, 2022. "Air Pollution and Mortality Impacts," Risks, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, June.
    6. Lan Anh Tong & Mehmet Ali Ulubaşoğlu & Cahit Guven, 2022. "Growing more Rice with less water: the System of Rice Intensification and water productivity in Vietnam," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(3), pages 581-611, July.
    7. Hong, Xudong & Wu, Shengnan & Zhang, Xueliang, 2022. "Clean energy powers energy poverty alleviation: Evidence from Chinese micro-survey data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    8. Li, Wenli & Yu, Youping & He, Qiang & Xu, Dingde & Qi, Yanbin & Deng, Xin, 2023. "Impact of clean energy use on the subjective health of household members: Empirical evidence from rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    9. Shu Wu, 2021. "The Health Impact of Household Cooking Fuel Choice on Women: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, November.
    10. Guven, Cahit & Tong, Lan & Ulubasoglu, Mehmet, 2021. "Growing More Rice with Less Water: The System of Rice Intensification and Rice Productivity in Vietnam," MPRA Paper 108768, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Luo, Yaping & Wu, Jianxian, 2024. "Before dinner: The health value of gaseous fuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    12. Wu, Shu, 2022. "Household fuel switching and the elderly's health: Evidence from rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    13. Li, Hui & Zhao, Jun & Zhang, Ruining & Hou, Bingdong, 2022. "The natural gas consumption and mortality nexus: A mediation analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    14. Liwei Tang & Ke Li & Pinrong Jia, 2020. "Impact of Environmental Regulations on Environmental Quality and Public Health in China: Empirical Analysis with Panel Data Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Hou, Bingdong & Zhang, Lingyue & Ai, Xianneng & Li, Hui, 2021. "Impact of city gas on mortality in China: National and regional estimates," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    16. Matthew E. Kahn & Somik Lall, 2022. "Will the Developing World’s Growing Middle Class Support Low Carbon Policies?," NBER Working Papers 30238, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Veysel Avsar & Gultekin Gollu & Nurgul Sevinc, 2022. "Strict trade measures, flexible financing," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(4), pages 1431-1452, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mortality; Air pollution; Natural gas; Coal; Turkey; Fracking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • 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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