Air pollution and worker productivity

Artikel

Environmental regulations are typically considered to be a drag on the economy. However, improved environmental quality may actually enhance productivity by creating a healthier workforce. Evidence suggests that improvements in air quality lead to improvements in worker productivity at the micro level across a range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and the service sectors, as well as at more aggregate macro levels. These effects also arise at levels of air quality that are below pollution thresholds in countries with the highest levels of environmental regulation. The findings suggest a new approach for understanding the consequences of environmental regulations.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: IZA World of Labor ; ISSN: 2054-9571 ; Year: 2023

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; General Welfare; Well-Being ; Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity ; Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
• Subject: air pollution ; worker productivity ; environmental policy

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Neidell, Matthew ; Pestel, Nico
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2023

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.15185/izawol.363.v2
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/274634
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET