The air quality and well-being effects of low emission zones

Luis Sarmiento, Nicole Wägner and Aleksandar Zaklan ()

Journal of Public Economics, 2023, vol. 227, issue C

Abstract: This study provides the first evidence of the subjective well-being impacts of low emission zones (LEZs) while also undertaking a comprehensive analysis of their air quality effects. We identify causal impacts by exploiting the zones’ introduction date with difference-in-differences designs robust to staggered implementations and time-varying treatment effects. Results show air quality improvements through reductions in traffic-related pollutants despite ground-level ozone increases and harmful spatial pollution spillovers. We further find that the zones cause transitory yet long-lasting reductions in individuals’ life satisfaction despite health benefits, suggesting that the subjective well-being effects of restricting mobility potentially outweigh those of improved health.

Keywords: Low emission zones; Air quality; Well-being; Health; Difference-in-differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 I31 Q53 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:227:y:2023:i:c:s0047272723001962

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2023.105014

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