Population density and urban air quality

Rainald Borck and Philipp Schrauth

Regional Science and Urban Economics, 2021, vol. 86, issue C

Abstract: We use panel data from Germany to analyze the effect of population density on urban air pollution (nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, ozone, and an aggregate index for bad air quality [AQI]). To address unobserved heterogeneity and omitted variables, we present long difference/fixed effects estimates and instrumental variables estimates, using historical population and soil quality as instruments. Using our preferred estimates, we find that the concentration increases with density for NO2 with an elasticity of 0.25 and particulate matter with elasticity of 0.08. The O3 concentration decreases with density with an elasticity of −0.14. The AQI increases with density, with an elasticity of 0.11–0.13. We also present a variety of robustness tests. Overall, the paper shows that higher population density worsens local air quality.

Keywords: Population density; Air pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q53 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (31)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Population density and urban air quality (2019)
Working Paper: Population density and urban air quality (2019)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:regeco:v:86:y:2021:i:c:s0166046220302817

DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103596

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