Severe Air Pollution and Labor Productivity: Evidence from Industrial Towns in China

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: He, Jiaxiu; Liu, Haoming; Salvo, Alberto
• 署名单位: National University of Singapore; Western University (University of Western Ontario)
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20170286
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 173-201
• 关键词: particulate matter; temporal pattern; mortality; exposure; INDOOR; CONSEQUENCES; performance; IMPACT

摘要

We examine day-to-day fluctuations in worker-level output at two manufacturing sites in China. Ambient fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution is severe but significantly variable, largely due to exogenous atmospheric ventilation. We obtain an insignificant immediate output response from concurrent (same-shift) variation in particle pollution. We then allow worker outcomes to respond to day-to-day variation in pollution with up to 30 days of delay. We uncover statistically significant adverse output effects from more prolonged exposure, but effects are not large. A substantial + 10 mu g/m(3) PM2.5 variation sustained over 25 days reduces daily output by 1 percent.