Riders in the Smog: How Air Pollution Affects Workers in Urban Environments

Giovanna D'Adda (), Simone Ferro (), Tommaso Frattini () and Alessio Romarri ()
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Giovanna D'Adda: University of Milan, Italy and CMCC
Simone Ferro: University of Milan, Italy
Tommaso Frattini: University of Milan, LdA, CEPR, RFBerlin
Alessio Romarri: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & RFBerlin, Germany

Working Papers from Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona

Abstract: Using large-scale high-granularity data from a food delivery platform and granular pollution and weather information, we study how PM2.5 fluctuations affect riders' absenteeism, productivity, and accidents. Exploiting exogenous pollution variation from inverse boundary layer height, we find that higher pollution increases absenteeism for all workers and raises delivery times and accident rates only among (e-)bike riders, who must exert physical effort while working. Affected workers compensate productivity losses by working longer hours. Monetary incentives mitigate the effects on absenteeism but do not offset the decline in productivity and appear to exacerbate accident risk.

Keywords: Air Pollution; Food Delivery Riders; Absenteeism; Labor Productivity; Workplace Safety. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 62 pages
Date: 2025-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma
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