We investigate unequal effects of daily particulate matter (PM) concentrations on Italian hospi- talizations by exploiting daily episodes of public transportation strikes as an instrumental variable for pollution exposure. We show that hospitalizations resulting from higher pollution are not only more likely to occur (extensive margin), but are also more complex to deal with (intensive margin). This penalty is larger for the young, the elderly, the less educated and migrants from low income countries. In order to appreciate the heterogeneity of our results, we show how municipalities with different age structures and PM exposure face similar hospitalization costs.

When Particulate Matter Strikes Cities. Social Disparities and Health Costs of Air Pollution

Alessandro Palma
2019-01-01

Abstract

We investigate unequal effects of daily particulate matter (PM) concentrations on Italian hospi- talizations by exploiting daily episodes of public transportation strikes as an instrumental variable for pollution exposure. We show that hospitalizations resulting from higher pollution are not only more likely to occur (extensive margin), but are also more complex to deal with (intensive margin). This penalty is larger for the young, the elderly, the less educated and migrants from low income countries. In order to appreciate the heterogeneity of our results, we show how municipalities with different age structures and PM exposure face similar hospitalization costs.
2019
air pollution
health costs
environmental policies
strikes
hospitalizations
particulate matter
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12571/7592
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact