Clearing the Air on the Costs of Pollution

 

Since the 1960s, the US has made notable strides in improving its air quality. However, while legislation like the Clean Air Act has had visible costs — including decreased manufacturing employment, and disruptive sectoral reallocation of labor — putting a dollar value on the benefits of cleaner air has been harder. This episode of EconoFact Explains looks at the natural experiments economists have used to better quantify the costs air pollution imposes, including on medical spending, learning, and cognitive performance, and health.

 

Related:

Memos:

• Global Temperature and Human Activity
• Clearing the Air on the Costs of Pollution

Podcasts:

• The Carbon Tax: A Green Thumb on the Invisible Hand