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Transboundary air pollution and health: evidence from East Asia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2021

Jaehyun Jung ,
Anna Choi  and
Semee Yoon Open the ORCID record for Semee Yoon [Opens in a new window]
Jaehyun Jung
Affiliation:
Korea Institute of Public Finance, Sejong-si, Republic of Korea
Anna Choi
Affiliation:
Department of Public Administration, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Semee Yoon*
Affiliation:
Underwood International College, Yonsei University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
*
*Corresponding author. yoonsemee@yonsei.ac.kr
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Abstract

Outdoor air pollution continues to be a challenging health issue, even as countries experience economic growth. By exploiting a unique transboundary setting in East Asia, we study the impact of an increase in particulate matter (PM) concentrations on fetal deaths. Due to the westerlies in the mid-latitudes, residents in South Korea at times experience intermittent exposure to high levels of air pollution. Using such atmospheric setting, we estimate a reduced-form impact of high PM events on fetal deaths, which captures in utero exposure to pollution. Controlling for local weather and pollution trends, regression results indicate that high PM events in Beijing lead to a significant increase in daily fetal mortality rates in Korea, by approximately 7.4 per cent. This research finding provides lower-bound estimates of not only negative spillovers manifested in fetal health but also the impact of pollution on the health of the Chinese population and calls for a need to tackle transboundary air pollution via international cooperation.

Keywords

air pollutionChinaEast Asiaexternalityfetal deathKoreatransboundary

JEL classification

H23: Externalities • Redistributive Effects • Environmental Taxes and Subsidies I12: Health Behavior Q51: Valuation of Environmental Effects J13: Fertility • Family Planning • Child Care • Children • Youth Q53: Air Pollution • Water Pollution • Noise • Hazardous Waste • Solid Waste • Recycling
Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 120 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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