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Risk attitude and air pollution: Evidence from chess

Author

Listed:
  • Joris Klingen

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Jos van Ommeren

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Abstract

Medical research suggests that particulate matter (PM) increases stress hormones, therefore increasing the feeling of stress, which has been hypothesised to induce individuals to take less risk. To examine this, we study whether PM increases the probability of drawing in chess games using information from the Dutch club competition. We provide evidence of a reasonably strong effect: A 10μg increase in PM10 (33.6% of mean concentration) leads to a 5.8% increase in draws. Our results demonstrate that air pollution causes individuals to take less risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Joris Klingen & Jos van Ommeren, 2020. "Risk attitude and air pollution: Evidence from chess," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 20-027/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20200027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Johannes Carow & Niklas M. Witzig, 2024. "Time Pressure and Strategic Risk-Taking in Professional Chess," Working Papers 2404, Gutenberg School of Management and Economics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
    2. Bellani, Luna & Ceolotto, Stefano & Elsner, Benjamin & Pestel, Nico, 2021. "Air Pollution Affects Decision-Making: Evidence from the Ballot Box," IZA Discussion Papers 14718, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    air pollution; particulate matter; cognitive ability; risk taking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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