Hell with the Lid Off: Racial Segregation and Environmental Equity in America’s Most Polluted City

Spencer Banzhaf, William Mathews and Randall Walsh

No 32950, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between racial segregation and environmental equity in Pittsburgh from 1910 to 1940. Utilizing newly digitized historical data on the spatial distribution of air pollution in what was likely America's most polluted city, we analyze how racial disparities in exposure to air pollution evolved during this period of heightening segregation. Our findings reveal that black residents experienced significantly higher levels of pollution compared to their white counterparts, and this disparity increased over time. We identify within-city moves as a critical factor exacerbating this inequity, with black movers facing increased pollution exposure. We also provide evidence of the capitalization of air pollution into housing markets. Taken as a whole, our results underscore the importance of considering environmental factors in discussions of racial and economic inequalities.

JEL-codes: H44 I15 N30 N92 Q53 R2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-09
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Working Paper: Hell with the Lid Off: Racial Segregation and Environmental Equity in America’s Most Polluted City (2024)
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