On the Effects of COVID-19 Safer-At-Home Policies on Social Distancing, Car Crashes and Pollution

Arbeitspapier

This paper investigates the impacts of COVID-19 safer-at-home polices on collisions and pollution. We find that statewide safer-at-home policies lead to a 20% reduction in vehicular collisions and that the effect is entirely driven by less severe collisions. For pollution, we find particulate matter concentration levels approximately 1.5µg/m3 lower during the period of a safer-at-home order, representing a 25% reduction. We document a similar reduction in air pollution following the implementation of similar policies in Europe. We calculate that as of the end of June 2020, the benefits from avoided car collisions in the U.S. were approximately $16 billion while the benefits from reduced air pollution could be as high as $13 billion.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: GLO Discussion Paper ; No. 774

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Other Economic Systems: Political Economy; Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies ; Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling ; Environmental Economics: Government Policy
• Subject: COVID-19 ; safer-at-home ; lockdowns ; air pollution ; car crashes

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Brodeur, Abel ; Cook, Nikolai ; Wright, Taylor
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Global Labor Organization (GLO)
• (where): Essen
• (when): 2021

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/229181
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:46 AM CET