Information, Avoidance Behavior, and Health: The Effect of Ozone on Asthma Hospitalizations / Matthew J. Neidell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Neidell, Matthew J.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w14209.

NBER working paper series no. w14209

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Information, Avoidance Behavior, and Health

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2008.

Summary:

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.

Notes:

Print version record

July 2008.