Abstract
This study investigates people’s behavioral responses to air pollution information in China. We find that elevated air pollution levels are positively associated with higher online searches for anti-PM2.5 masks and air filters. A 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 is associated with a 3.6–8.4% increase of mobile queries for anti-PM2.5 masks, and 1.1–4.7% for air filters. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that a haze alert issued when PM2.5 concentration exceeds 250 µg/m3 would double online queries for anti-PM2.5 masks and air filters. Online searches are also positively correlated with online sales. One day of severe pollution would induce a cost of 0.2 million USD on online expenditure on anti-PM2.5 masks. Some suggestive evidence shows that people in richer and polluted cities tend to search more for anti-PM2.5 masks and air filters than those in poorer and cleaner cities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 325-363 |
| Number of pages | 39 |
| Journal | Environmental Economics and Policy Studies |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017, Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies and Springer Japan KK.
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords
- Air pollution
- Avoidance behavior
- Haze alert
- Online search
- PM
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