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The Historical Impact of Coal on Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Karen Clay
  • Joshua A. Lewis
  • Edson R. Severnini

Abstract

Historically coal has offered both benefits and costs to urban areas. Benefits include coal’s role in fueling industry and thus employment. The primary costs are air pollution and its impact on human health. This paper starts by using a Rosen-Roback style model to examine how differences in local coal availability affect equilibrium city employment. Drawing on the model, the paper surveys papers that examine the net effects of coal on the growth in city population and air pollution on health. The paper then turns to papers that explicitly consider the trade-offs between production benefits and pollution disamenities across space and over time. The paper ends with a discussion of opportunities for future work on coal and cities in historical settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Clay & Joshua A. Lewis & Edson R. Severnini, 2023. "The Historical Impact of Coal on Cities," NBER Working Papers 31365, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31365
    Note: CH DAE DEV EEE EH PE
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Benjamin Bridgman, 2025. "A Century of Super–Rich Longevity," BEA Papers 0135, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N52 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N72 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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