Happiness in the air: How does a dirty sky affect mental health and subjective well-being?

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management

Volumn 85, Issue , 2017, Pages 81-94

  Zhang, Xin ^a   Zhang, Xiaobo ^a   Chen, Xi ^b  

^a PEKING UNIVERSITY   (China)

^b YALE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Air pollution; Depression; Easterlin paradox; Hedonic happiness; Life satisfaction; Mental health

Indexed keywords

AIR POLLUTION; AIR QUALITY; ECONOMICS; HEALTH; SURVEYS;

DEPRESSION; EASTERLIN PARADOX; HEDONIC HAPPINESS; LIFE SATISFACTION; MENTAL HEALTH;

POLLUTION;

AIR QUALITY; ECONOMIC GROWTH; LIFE SATISFACTION; MENTAL HEALTH; PERCEPTION; PUBLIC HEALTH;

CHINA;

EID: 85019111589     PISSN: 00950696     EISSN: 10960449     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2017.04.001     Document Type: Article

References (77)

1. Aggarwal, A., Freund, K., Sato, A., Adams-Campbell, L., Lopez, A., Lessin, L., Ockene, J., Wallace, R., Williams, C., Bonds, D., Are depressive symptoms associated with cancer screening and cancer stage at diagnosis among postmenopausal women?. J. Women's Health 17:8 (2008), 1353–1361.
2. Beatty, T.K.M., Shimshack, J.P., Air pollution and children's respiratory health: a cohort analysis. J. Environ. Econ. Manag. 67 (2014), 39–57.
3. Byers, A.L., Yaffe, K., Covinsky, K.E., Friedman, M.B., Bruce, M.L., High occurrence of mood and anxiety disorders among older adults: the national comorbidity survey replication. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 67 (2010), 489–496.
4. Burnam, M.A., Wells, K.B., Leake, B., Landsverk, J., Development of a brief screening instrument for detecting depressive disorders. Med. Care 26 (1988), 775–789.
5. Chang, T., Graff Zivin, J., Gross, T., Neidell, M., 2014. The Effect of Pollution on Office Workers: Evidence from Call Center Workers in China, NBER Working Paper No. 22328.
6. Chang, T., Graff Zivin, J., Gross, T., Neidell, M., Particulate pollution and the productivity of pear packers. Am. Econ. J.: Econ. Policy 8:3 (2016), 141–169.
7. Chen, X., Old age pension and intergenerational living arrangements: a regression discontinuity design. Econ. Househ. 15:2 (2017), 455–476.
8. Chen, X., Relative deprivation and individual well-being: health, human capital and happiness. IZA World Labor 140 (2015), 1–10.
9. Chen, Y., Ebenstein, A., Greenstone, M., Li, H., Evidence on the impact of sustained exposure to air pollution on life expectancy from China's Huai river policy. PNAS 110 (2013), 12936–12941.
10. Chen, Y., Jin, G.Z., Kumar, N., Shi, G., Gaming in air pollution data? Lessons from China. B.E. J. Econ. Anal. Policy 13:3 (2012), 1–43.
11. Clark, A.E., Frijters, P., Shields, M.A., Relative income, happiness, and utility: an explanation for the easterlin paradox and other puzzles. J. Econ. Lit. 46 (2008), 95–144.
12. Cohen, A.J., Ross Anderson, H., Ostro, B., Pandey, K.D., Krzyzanowski, M., Künzli, N., Gutschmidt, K., Pope, A., Romieu, I., Samet, J.M., Smith, K., The global burden of disease due to outdoor air pollution. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health Part A: Curr. Issues 68:13/14 (2005), 1301–1307.
13. Collins, P.Y., Patel, V., Joestl, S.S., March, D., Insel, T.R., Daar, A.S., Bordin, I.A., Costello, E.J., Durkin, M., Fairburn, C., et al. Grand challenges in global mental health. Nature 475:7354 (2011), 27–30.
14. Cunningham, M.R., Weather, mood, and helping behavior: quasi experiments with the sunshine samaritan. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 37:11 (1979), 1947–1956.
15. Deaton, A., Stone, A.A., Two happiness puzzles. Am. Econ. Rev. 103 (2013), 591–597.
16. Deaton, A., Lubotsky, D., Mortality, inequality and race in American cities and states. Social. Sci. Med. 56 (2003), 1139–1153.
17. Di Tella, R., MacCulloch, R., Some uses of happiness data in economics. J. Econ. Perspect. 20:1 (2006), 25–46.
18. Di Tella, R., MacCulloch, R., Gross national happiness as an answer to the easterlin paradox?. J. Dev. Econ. 86 (2008), 22–42.
19. Easterlin, R.A., Does economic growth improve the human lot? Some empirical evidence. David, P.A., Reder, M.W., (eds.) Nations and Households in Economic Growth, 1974, Academic Press, New York.
20. Easterlin, R.A., Will raising the incomes of all increase the happiness of all?. J. Econ. Behav. Organ. 27 (1995), 35–47.
21. Easterlin, R.A., Angelescu McVey, L., Switek, M., Sawangfa, O., Smith Zweig, J., The happiness-income paradox revisited. PNAS 107:52 (2010), 22463–22468.
22. Easterlin, R.A., Morgan, R., Switek, M., Wang, F., China's life satisfaction, 1990–2010. PNAS 109 (2012), 9775–9780.
23. Ebenstein, A., Lavy, V., Roth, S., The long-run economic consequences of high-stakes examinations: evidence from transitory variation in pollution. Am. Econ. J.: Appl. Econ. 8:4 (2016), 36–65.
24. Ferreira, S., Akay, A., Brereton, F., Cuñado, J., Martinsson, P., Moro, M., Ningal, T.F., Life satisfaction and air quality in Europe. Ecol. Econ. 88 (2013), 1–10.
25. Frederick, S., Loewenstein, G., Hedonic adaptation. Kahneman, D., Diener, E., Schwarz, N., (eds.) Scientific Perspectives on Enjoyment, Suffering, and Well-being, 1999, Russell Sage Foundation, New York, US, 302–329.
26. Gallagher, P., Lazarus, W., Shapouri, H., Conway, R., Bachewe, F., Fischer, A., Cardiovascular disease—risk benefits of clean fuel technology and policy: a statistical analysis. Energy Policy 38 (2010), 1210–1222.
27. Gardner, J., Oswald, A.J., Do divorcing couples become happier by breaking up?. J. R. Stat. Soc., Ser. A (Stat. Soc.) 169:2 (2006), 319–336.
28. Gardner, J., Oswald, A.J., Money and mental well-being: a longitudinal study of medium-sized lottery wins. J. Health Econ. 26:1 (2007), 49–60.
29. Ghanem, D., Zhang, J., ‘Effortless perfection’: do Chinese cities manipulate air pollution data?”. J. Environ. Econ. Manag. 68 (2014), 203–225.
30. Graff Zivin, J., Neidell, M., The impact of pollution on worker productivity. Am. Econ. Rev. 102:7 (2012), 3652–3673.
31. Graham, C., The economics of happiness. World Econ. 6:3 (2005), 41–55.
32. Graham, C., Chattopadhyay, S., Picon, M., The easterlin and other paradoxes: why both sides of the debate may be correct?. (chap. 9) Diener, E., Kahneman, D., Helliwell, J., (eds.) International Differences in Well-being, 2010, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 247–290.
33. Greenstone, M., Hanna, R., Environmental regulations, air and water pollution, and infant mortality in India. Am. Econ. Rev. 104:10 (2014), 3038–3072.
34. Hagerty, M.R., Veenhoven, R., Wealth and happiness revisited—growing national income does go with greater happiness. Social. Indic. Res. 64:1 (2003), 1–27.
35. He, J., Liu, H., Salvo, A., 2016. Severe Air Pollution and Labor Productivity: Evidence from Industrial Towns in China, IZA Discussion Paper 8916.
36. Helliwell, J., Understanding and Improving the Social Context of Well-being. (NBER Working Paper 18486), 2012, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, US.
37. Inglehart, R., Foa, R., Peterson, C., Welzel, C., Development, freedom, and rising happiness: a global perspective (1981–2007). Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 3:4 (2008), 264–285.
38. Jayachandran, S., Air quality and early-Life mortality: evidence from Indonesia's wildfires. J. Hum. Resour. 44:4 (2009), 916–954.
39. Kahneman, D., Deaton, A., High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. PNAS 107 (2010), 16489–16493.
40. Knight, J., Gunatilaka, R., The rural-urban divide in China: income but not happiness?. J. Dev. Stud. 46 (2010), 506–534.
41. Knight, J., Gunatilaka, R., Does economic growth raise happiness in China?. Oxf. Dev. Stud. 39 (2011), 1–24.
42. Knight, J., Song, L., Gunatilaka, R., Subjective well-being and its determinants in rural China. China Econ. Rev. 20 (2009), 635–649.
43. Levinson, A., Valuing public goods using happiness data: the case of air quality. J. Public Econ. 96 (2012), 869–880.
44. Levinson, A., 2013. Happiness, Behavioral Economics, and Public Policy, NBER Working Papers 19329.
45. Li, J., Xia, C., Yu, X., Jiating Yiliao Zhichu yu Fudan. (chap. 6) Xie, Y., Zhang, X., Li, J., (eds.) China Minsheng Fazhan Baogao, 2014, Peking University Press, Zurich, Switzerland.
46. Lleras-Muney, A., The needs of the army: using compulsory relocation in the military to estimate the effect of air pollutants on children's health. J. Hum. Resour. 45:3 (2010), 549–590.
47. Luechinger, S., Valuing air quality using the life satisfaction approach. Econ. J. 119 (2009), 482–515.
48. Luechinger, S., Life satisfaction and transboundary air pollution. Econ. Lett. 107 (2010), 4–6.
49. Luttmer, E., Neighbors as negative: relative earnings and well-being. Q. J. Econ. 120:3 (2005), 963–1002.
50. MacKerron, G., Mourato, S., Life satisfaction and air quality in London. Ecol. Econ. 68 (2009), 1441–1453.
51. Mandal, B., Roe, B., Job loss, retirement and the mental health of older Americans. J. Ment. Health Policy Econ. 11 (2008), 167–176.
52. Mathers, C.D., Fat, D.M., Boerma, J., The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update. 2008, World Health Organization, Switzerland.
53. Menz, T., Do people habituate to air pollution? Evidence from international life satisfaction data. Ecol. Econ. 71 (2011), 211–219.
54. Menz, T., Welsch, H., Life-cycle and cohort effects in the valuation of air quality: evidence from subjective well-being data. Land Econ. 88:2 (2012), 300–325.
55. Moretti, E., Neidell, M., Pollution, health, and avoidance behavior: evidence from the ports of Los Angeles. J. Hum. Resour. 46:1 (2011), 154–175.
56. Nattero, Giovanni, Enrico, Annalisa, Outdoor pollution and headache. Headache 36 (1996), 243–245.
57. Neidell, M., Information, avoidance behavior, and health: the effect of ozone on asthma hospitalizations. J. Hum. Resour. 44:2 (2009), 450–478.
58. Oswald, A.J., Happiness and economic performance. Econ. J. 107 (1997), 1815–1831.
59. Radloff, L.S., The CES-D scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl. Psychol. Meas. 1 (1977), 385–401.
60. Rehdanz, K., Maddison, D., Local environmental quality and life-satisfaction in Germany. Ecol. Econ. 64 (2008), 787–797.
61. Rehdanz, K., Welsch, H., Narita, D., Okubo, T., Well-being effects of a major natural disaster: the case of Fukushima. J. Econ. Behav. Organ. 116:C (2015), 500–517.
62. Rotton, J., Frey, J., Psychological costs of air pollution: atmospheric conditions, seasonal trends, and psychiatric emergencies. Popul. Environ. 7:1 (1984), 3–16.
63. Stevenson, B., Wolfers, J., Economic Growth and Subjective Well-being: Reassessing the Easterlin Paradox. (NBER Working Paper 14282), 2008, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, US.
64. Stillman, S., McKenzie, D., Gibson, J., Migration and mental health: evidence from a natural experiment. J. Health Econ. 28:3 (2009), 677–687.
65. Stone, A.A., Mackie, C., (eds.) Subjective Well-being: Measuring Happiness, Suffering, and Other Dimensions of Experience, 2014, National Research Council, National Academies Press, Washington, DC.
66. Szyszkowicz, Mieczysław, Air pollution and emergency department visits for depression in Edmonton, Canada. Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health 20:3 (2007), 241–245.
67. Tanaka, S., Environmental regulations on air pollution in China and their impact on infant mortality. J. Health Econ. 42 (2015), 90–103.
68. The Economist, 2015. Mapping the Invisible Scourge, August 15.
69. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. 1999, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, MD.
70. Uchida, Y., Kitayama, S., Happiness and unhappiness in east and west: themes and variations. Emotion 9 (2009), 441–456.
71. Welsch, H., Environment and happiness: valuation of air pollution using life satisfaction data. Ecol. Econ. 58 (2006), 801–813.
72. Welsch, H., Environmental welfare analysis: a life satisfaction approach. Ecol. Econ. 62 (2007), 544–551.
73. Wolfson, E., Your zodiac sign, your health. Atlantic, 2013, 15.
74. Xie, Y., Hu, J., An introduction to the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Chin. Sociol. Rev. 47:1 (2014), 3–29.
75. Xie, Y., Zhang, X., Xu, Q., Zhang, C., Shouru Fenpei. (chap. 2) Xie, Y., Zhang, X., Li, J., (eds.) China Minsheng Fazhan Baogao, 2013, Peking University Press, Zurich, Switzerland.
76. Zhang, C., Xu, Q., Zhou, X., Zhang, X., Xie, Y., Are poverty rates underestimated in China? New evidence from four recent surveys. China Econ. Rev. 31 (2014), 410–425.
77. Zhang, X., Yang, J., Wang, S., China has reached the Lewis turning point. China Econ. Rev. 22:4 (2011), 542–554.