Bringing Satellite-Based Air Quality Estimates Down to Earth

Meredith Fowlie, Edward Rubin and Reed Walker

No 25560, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We use state-of-the-art, satellite-based PM2.5 estimates to assess the extent to which the EPA's existing, monitor-based measurements over- or under-estimate true exposure to PM2.5 pollution. Treating satellite-based estimates as truth implies a substantial number of "policy errors"—over-regulating areas that comply with air quality standards and under-regulating other areas that appear to violate standards. We investigate the health implications of these apparent errors and highlight the importance of accounting for prediction error in satellite-based estimates. Uncertainty in "policy errors" increases substantially when we account for these underlying prediction errors.

JEL-codes: H23 H41 Q50 Q52 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-big, nep-ene, nep-env and nep-reg
Note: CH EEE PE
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (48)

Published as Meredith Fowlie & Edward Rubin & Reed Walker, 2019. "Bringing Satellite-Based Air Quality Estimates Down to Earth," AEA Papers and Proceedings, vol 109, pages 283-288.

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Journal Article: Bringing Satellite-Based Air Quality Estimates Down to Earth (2019)
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