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Seasonal Allergies and Accidents

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  • Mika Akesaka
  • Hitoshi Shigeoka

Abstract

Seasonal allergies affect over 400 million people globally, yet the broader economic consequences of pollen exposure remain understudied. Evidence from Japan’s ambulance records suggests that high-pollen days are associated with increases in accidents, including traffic accidents and work-related injuries, which may reflect impaired cognitive performance. Retail scanner data and cellphone mobility records indicate that individuals already engage in avoidance behaviors, such as purchasing allergy products and limiting outdoor activities on weekends. This suggests that relying on individual self-protection may be insufficient to offset these risks, and thus greater government intervention may be warranted to mitigate pollen-related harm.

Suggested Citation

  • Mika Akesaka & Hitoshi Shigeoka, 2023. "Seasonal Allergies and Accidents," NBER Working Papers 31593, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31593
    Note: AG EEE EH LS PE PR
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yuhei Miyauchi & Kentaro Nakajima & Stephen J Redding, 2025. "The Economics of Spatial Mobility: Theory and Evidence Using Smartphone Data," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 140(4), pages 2507-2570.
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    Cited by:

    1. He, Guojun & Pan, Yuhang & Tanaka, Takanao, 2025. "Air pollution and the airborne diseases: Evidence from China and Japan," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    2. Lusher, Lester & Ruberg, Tim, 2023. "Killer Alerts? Public Health Warnings and Heat Stroke in Japan," IZA Discussion Papers 16562, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Lester Lusher & Tim Ruberg, 2024. "Unveiling the Unseen Illness: Public Health Warnings and Heat Stroke," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2024-020, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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