The Effect of Pollution on Worker Productivity: Evidence from Call Center Workers in China

Tom Y. Chang, Joshua Graff Zivin, Tal Gross and Matthew Neidell

American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2019, vol. 11, issue 1, 151-72

Abstract: We investigate the effect of pollution on worker productivity in the service sector by focusing on two call centers in China. Using precise measures of each worker's daily output linked to daily measures of pollution and meteorology, we find that higher levels of air pollution decrease worker productivity. These results manifest themselves at levels of pollution commonly found in large cities throughout the developing and developed world.

JEL-codes: J24 L84 O13 P23 P28 Q51 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
Note: DOI: 10.1257/app.20160436
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (189)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Effect of Pollution on Worker Productivity: Evidence from Call-Center Workers in China (2016)
Working Paper: The Effect of Pollution on Worker Productivity: Evidence from Call-Center Workers in China (2016)
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