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Air Quality and Conferences' Engagement

Author

Listed:
  • Gazze, Ludovica

    (University of Warwick and CAGE)

  • Gupta, Tanu

    (University of Southampton Delhi)

  • Huang, Allen (Weiyi)

    (St Hilda's College, University of Oxford)

  • Londoño, Valentina

    (Universidad del Rosario)

  • Saavedra, Santiago

    (Universidad del Rosario)

  • Toma, Mattie

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

There is limited evidence on the non-health impacts of air pollution, including productivity in the workplace and behavior. We examine the effect of air pollution on participation, collaboration, and feedback provision in a workplace setting. Our experiment randomly assigns air purifiers to rooms at three large academic conferences to investigate the causal impact of air pollution on participants’ engagement behavior. We construct a participant engagement index based on 12 presentation-level behavioral outcomes directly measured by conference observers through an online form and weigh each behavioral outcome using weights elicited from an expert survey. Conference rooms treated with air purifiers exhibit 48% less PM2.5 concentration compared to control rooms. However, we do not find a statistically significant change in engagement. Communication in the workplace might not be a large driver of the empirical relationship between air quality and productivity, albeit more research is needed across workplaces and measures of communication.

Suggested Citation

  • Gazze, Ludovica & Gupta, Tanu & Huang, Allen (Weiyi) & Londoño, Valentina & Saavedra, Santiago & Toma, Mattie, 2025. "Air Quality and Conferences' Engagement," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 773, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cge:wacage:773
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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