The Effect of Pollution on Worker Productivity: Evidence from Call Center Workers in China

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Chang, Tom Y.; Zivin, Joshua Graff; Gross, Tal; Neidell, Matthew
• 署名单位: University of Southern California; University of California System; University of California San Diego; National Bureau of Economic Research; Boston University; Columbia University
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20160436
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 151-172
• 关键词: particulate air-pollution; particles; exposure; matter

摘要

We investigate the effect of pollution on worker productivity in the service sector by focusing on two call centers in China. Using precise measures of each worker's daily output linked to daily measures of pollution and meteorology, we find that higher levels of air pollution decrease worker productivity. These results manifest themselves at levels of pollution commonly found in large cities throughout the developing and developed world.