Trends and the Economic Effect of Asbestos Bans and Decline in Asbestos Consumption and Production Worldwide

Lucy P. Allen, Jorge Baez, Mary Elizabeth C. Stern, Ken Takahashi and Frank George
Additional contact information
Lucy P. Allen: NERA Economic Consulting, 1166 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10036, USA
Jorge Baez: NERA Economic Consulting, 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 950, Miami, FL 33131, USA
Mary Elizabeth C. Stern: NERA Economic Consulting, 360 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601, USA
Ken Takahashi: Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, University of Sydney, Gate 3 Hospital Road, Concord NSW 2139, Australia
Frank George: World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Although some countries have reduced asbestos consumption and instituted bans, other countries continue to produce and consume asbestos even as asbestos-related deaths mount and the associated societal costs are high. Asbestos production and consumption has declined globally; the number of bans has increased; and the speed at which countries have tapered off consumption has increased. Using country-level data, we study the economic impact of historical changes in the production and use of asbestos. We compare changes in gross domestic product (GDP) following the enactment of asbestos bans. We do not find any significant effect on GDP following an asbestos ban. In a regional case study, we compare changes in GDP and employment with changes in asbestos production. Regional-level data revealed a temporary employment decline at the local level that was then reversed.

Keywords: asbestos; bans; gross domestic product; employment; mesothelioma (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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