Information, awareness, and mental health: Evidence from air pollution disclosure in China

Tingting Xie, Ye Yuan and Hui Zhang

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2023, vol. 120, issue C

Abstract: This paper assesses mental health responses to information on environmental risks. We exploit the progressive implementation of a national program in China that introduces more comprehensive air pollution monitoring and provides real-time air-pollution information to the public. The program leads to a sharp increase in public awareness and attention to air pollution issues and results in a large increase in the sensitivity of individual’s mental health to changes in air quality, especially among those with more exposure to pollution information and those more susceptible to mental illnesses. Information of worsening air quality has a direct effect on mental health as a source of stressors and an indirect behavioral effect through reducing outdoor activities and social integration. Our findings shed light on the design and delivery of environmental information disclosure programs, especially for countries with pressing environmental threats.

Keywords: Environmental information; Mental health; Environmental regulations; Air pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D80 I10 Q53 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:120:y:2023:i:c:s0095069623000451

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2023.102827

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