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Congestion Pricing, Air Pollution, and Children’s Health

Author

Listed:
  • Emilia Simeonova
  • Janet Currie
  • Peter Nilsson
  • Reed Walker

Abstract

This study examines the effects of a congestion tax in central Stockholm on ambient air pollution and the health of local children. We demonstrate that the tax reduced ambient air pollution by 5–15 percent and the rate of acute asthma attacks among young children. We do not see corresponding changes in accidents or hospitalizations for nonrespiratory conditions. As the change in health was more gradual than the change in pollution, it may take time for the full health effects of changes in pollution to materialize if the mechanism is pollution. Hence, short-run estimates of pollution reduction programs may understate long-run health benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilia Simeonova & Janet Currie & Peter Nilsson & Reed Walker, 2021. "Congestion Pricing, Air Pollution, and Children’s Health," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 56(4), pages 971-996.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:56:y:2021:i:4:p:971-996
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.56.4.0218-9363R2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Stefan Bauernschuster & Timo Hener & Helmut Rainer, 2017. "When Labor Disputes Bring Cities to a Standstill: The Impact of Public Transit Strikes on Traffic, Accidents, Air Pollution, and Health," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 9(1), pages 1-37, February.
    6. David Cesarini & Erik Lindqvist & Robert Östling & Björn Wallace, 2016. "Wealth, Health, and Child Development: Evidence from Administrative Data on Swedish Lottery Players," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 131(2), pages 687-738.
    7. Janet Currie & Reed Walker, 2011. "Traffic Congestion and Infant Health: Evidence from E-ZPass," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(1), pages 65-90, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Green, Colin P. & Heywood, John S. & Navarro Paniagua, Maria, 2020. "Did the London congestion charge reduce pollution?," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Helmers, Viola & Frondel, Manuel & Sommer, Stephan, 2023. "On the Acceptance of Congestion Charges: Experimental Evidence for Six European Countries," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277706, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    3. Andrea Baranzini & Stefano Carattini & Linda Tesauro, 2021. "Designing Effective and Acceptable Road Pricing Schemes: Evidence from the Geneva Congestion Charge," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 79(3), pages 417-482, July.
    4. Shihe Fu & V. Brian Viard, 2022. "A mayors perspective on tackling air pollution," Chapters, in: Charles K.Y. Leung (ed.), Handbook of Real Estate and Macroeconomics, chapter 16, pages 413-437, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Godzinski, Alexandre & Suarez Castillo, Milena, 2021. "Disentangling the effects of air pollutants with many instruments," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    6. Margaryan, Shushanik, 2021. "Low emission zones and population health," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    7. Emmanuelle Lavaine & Philippe Majerus & Nicolas Treich, 2020. "Health, air pollution, and animal agriculture," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 101(4), pages 517-528, December.
    8. Jill Furzer & Boriana Miloucheva, 2020. "The Long Arm of the Clean Air Act: Pollution Abatement and COVID-19 Racial Disparities," Working Papers tecipa-668, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    9. Isaksen, Elisabeth T. & Johansen, Bjørn G., 2021. "Congestion pricing, air pollution, and individual-level behavioral responses," Memorandum 1/2021, Oslo University, Department of Economics.
    10. Isaksen, Elisabeth & Johansen, Bjørn G., 2021. "Congestion pricing, air pollution, and individual-level behavioural responses," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 111493, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Elsner, Benjamin & Wozny, Florian, 2023. "Long-run exposure to low-dose radiation reduces cognitive performance," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    12. Champagne, Marie-Pier & Dubé, Jean, 2023. "The impact of transport infrastructure on firms’ location decision: A meta-analysis based on a systematic literature review," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 139-155.
    13. Luis Sarmiento & Nicole Wägner & Aleksandar Zaklan, 2021. "Effectiveness, Spillovers, and Well-Being Effects of Driving Restriction Policies," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1947, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    14. Pestel, Nico & Wozny, Florian, 2019. "Low Emission Zones for Better Health: Evidence from German Hospitals," IZA Discussion Papers 12545, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Rodriguez-Roman, Daniel & Ritchie, Stephen G., 2020. "Surrogate-based optimization for multi-objective toll design problems," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 485-503.
    16. Klauber, Hannah & Holub, Felix & Koch, Nicolas & Pestel, Nico & Ritter, Nolan & Rohlf, Alexander, 2021. "Killing Prescriptions Softly: Low Emission Zones and Child Health from Birth to School," IZA Discussion Papers 14376, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Hamid Noghanibehambari & Jason Fletcher, 2022. "Dust to Feed, Dust to Grey: The Effect of In-Utero Exposure to the Dust Bowl on Old-Age Longevity," NBER Working Papers 30531, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    18. Albalate, Daniel & Fageda, Xavier, 2021. "On the relationship between congestion and road safety in cities," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 145-152.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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