Straw burning, PM2.5, and death: Evidence from China

Guojun He, Tong Liu and Maigeng Zhou

Journal of Development Economics, 2020, vol. 145, issue C

Abstract: This study uses satellite data to detect agricultural straw burning and estimates its impact on air pollution and health in China. We find that straw burning increases particulate matter pollution and causes people to die from cardiorespiratory diseases. We estimate that a 10 ​μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 increases mortality by 3.25%. Middle-aged and old people in rural areas are particularly sensitive to straw burning pollution. Exploratory analysis of China’s programs to subsidize straw recycling suggests that extending these programs to all the straw burning regions would bring about a health benefit that is an order of magnitude larger than the cost.

Keywords: Straw burning; Stubble burning; Air pollution; Mortality; Straw recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 I31 Q18 Q53 R1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (71)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Straw Burning, PM2.5 and Death: Evidence from China (2021)
Working Paper: Straw Burning, PM2.5 and Death: Evidence from China (2019)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:deveco:v:145:y:2020:i:c:s0304387820300432

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2020.102468

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