“We are finding more and more evidence that even relatively low and moderate levels of air pollution have high costs.”
When forests burn and garbage floats in the sea, it is visible to everyone. Air pollution, however, begins with tiny particles that no one notices at first. Often, it takes time for pollution and health damage to become apparent, with enormous follow-up costs. Although good intentions and emission thresholds in the fight against air pollution are not lacking, the fight is not yet fully successful. In political debates, it is sometimes argued that measures against air pollution could jeopardize jobs, slow down investment, or put pressure on entire industries. In the Hypothesis podcast of the University of Bonn, ECONtribute member Julia Mink discusses to what extent such arguments are valid and whether clean air is truly detrimental to the economy.
Julia Mink is a Junior Professor of Environmental Economics, Sustainability, and Inequality at the University of Bonn and a member of the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy. The economist is currently investigating the costs of air pollution to the healthcare system.
Find out more in the University of Bonn’s podcast (in German) and read the study here.