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Alerts Work! Air Quality Warnings and Cycling

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony Heyes

    (Department of Economics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON)

  • Nicholas Rivers

    (Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, ON)

  • Soodeh Saberian

    (Department of Economics, University of Ottawa, ON)

Abstract

Alert programs are central to strategies to reduce the health impacts of air pollution in many jurisdictions. Evidence that they work, however, is sparse - indeed the majority of published studies fail to find a significant impact of alerts on behavior. Alerts particularly seek to influence energetic cardio-vascular outdoor pursuits. This study is the first to use administrative data to show that alerts are effective in reducing participation in such a pursuit (namely cycle use in Sydney, Australia) and, to our knowledge, the first showing alerts to be effective in changing ANY behavior in a non-US setting. The behavioral responses are substantial, generally in the range of 14 to 35%. The results are robust to the inclusion of a battery of controls in various combinations, alternative estimation methods and non-linear specifications. We develop various sub-sample results and also find evidence of alert fatigue.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Heyes & Nicholas Rivers & Soodeh Saberian, 2015. "Alerts Work! Air Quality Warnings and Cycling," Working Papers E1502E, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ott:wpaper:e1502e
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    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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