Working Paper: NBER ID: w14209
Authors: Matthew J. Neidell
Abstract: This paper assesses whether responses to information about risk impact estimates of the relationship between ozone and asthma in Southern California. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find smog alerts significantly reduces daily attendance at two major outdoor facilities. Using daily time-series regression models that include year-month and small area fixed effects, I find estimates of the effect of ozone for children and the elderly that include information are significantly larger than estimates that do not. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that individuals take substantial action to reduce exposure to risk; estimates ignoring these actions are severely biased.
Keywords: Ozone; Asthma; Health; Smog Alerts; Behavioral Responses
JEL Codes: D80; I12; I18; Q53
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| smog alerts (Q53) | outdoor attendance (L83) |
| avoidance behavior (D91) | estimated effect of ozone on asthma hospitalizations (I14) |
| air quality information (Q53) | asthma hospitalizations (children and elderly) (I19) |