Study: “Environmental Regulations in China and Their Effects on Air Pollution and Infant Mortality”
PI(s): Tanaka, Shinsuke
Affiliation(s): Tufts University
Institutional Partner(s): IIE Fellow
Project Dates:
Start: 2010
End: 2011
Data Source(s): Panel Data
Methods:
Geographic Location(s): China
Description:
China is one of the first developing countries to implement a large-scale regulation on pollutant emissions from industry. There is a necessity to examine the trade-offs between the environment, health, and economic growth, and this study quantifies the impacts of air pollution and related regulations on infant mortality in China. The study attempts to answer three major questions: At high concentrations of pollution, how severe are the effects on human health? To what extent do environmental regulations affect reductions in air pollution and infant mortality? To what extent are health shocks mitigated by socioeconomic status? Using two major data sources (Chinese Disease Surveillance Points system and China Environment Yearbooks), the results suggest that the regulations led to significant reductions in air pollution and infant mortality rate (IMR), an estimated 21 percent decline in IMR. The findings also suggest that infants from low socioeconomic families are more vulnerable to the effects of pollution, most important, maternal exposure to pollution and its effect on fetal development.
Research Outputs:
Tanaka, Shinsuke. (2015). Environmental regulations on air pollution in China and their impact on infant mortality. Journal of Health Economics, 42. 90-103. DOI; 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.02.004
Tanaka, Shinsuke. (2014). Does Abolishing User Fees Lead to Improved Health Status? Evidence from Post-Apartheid South Africa. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 6 (3). 282-312. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2215144
Tanaka, Shinsuke. (2013). Does Abolishing User Fees Lead to Improved Health Status? Evidence from Post-Apartheid South Africa.
Tanaka, Shinsuke. (2010). Environmental Regulations in China and Their Impact on Air Pollution and Infant Mortality (Job market paper). Boston University, Boston, MA.