“Invisible Killer”: Seasonal Allergies and Accidents

Mika Akesaka and Hitoshi Shigeoka

No 31593, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Although at least 400 million people suffer from seasonal allergies worldwide, the adverse effects of pollen on “non-health” outcomes, such as cognition and productivity, are relatively understudied. Using ambulance archives from Japan, we demonstrate that high pollen days are associated with increased accidents and injuries—one of the most extreme consequences of cognitive impairment. We find some evidence of avoidance behavior in buying allergy products but limited evidence in curtailing outdoor activity, implying that the cognitive risk of pollen exposure is discounted. Our results suggest that policymakers may wish to consider programs to raise public awareness of the risk and promote behavioral change.

JEL-codes: I12 J24 Q51 Q53 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-lma
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Working Paper: "Invisible Killer": Seasonal Allergies and Accidents (2023)
Working Paper: ``Invisible Killer'': Seasonal Allergies and Accidents (2023)
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