Working papers:
Working papers:
Does air pollution affect the likelihood of a car crash? Evidence from the US, Job Market Paper
Abstract: Â This paper examines the causal impact of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on traffic crashes using instrumental variable analysis with wind direction as an instrument for air pollution. I provide evidence at both the national level across U.S. counties and through a detailed case study of Chicago. The national analysis reveals that a 1 unit increase in daily PM2.5 levels leads to a 1.34% increase in fatal accidents after accounting for weather conditions and fixed effects. Extending to hourly data, I find that a 1 unit increase in PM2.5 in the hour prior to an accident results in a 1.97% increase in fatal crashes, indicating that immediate pollution exposure impairs cognitive function in real time. The Chicago case study validates these findings while revealing that pollution affects crash severity, suggesting pollution impairs drivers' ability to avoid or mitigate severe outcomes. Individual crash-level analysis confirms that PM2.5 increases injury severity conditional on a crash occurring. A one unit reduction in PM2.5 could prevent approximately 550 fatal crashes annually nationwide, valued at $4.06 billion using the EPA's Value of Statistical Life. These findings contribute to the literature on the cognitive effects of air pollution and suggest that the social costs of pollution may be underestimated.
Effect of the Clean Air Act (1970) on Mental Health Outcomes
Abstract: This study examines the impact of the 1970 Clean Air Act on mental health outcomes, with a focus on changes in suicide and depression rates following regulatory-driven reductions in air pollution. Using county-level data and an instrumental variable approach with non-attainment status as an instrument, I analyze the relationship between air quality improvements and mental health. The results indicate no significant effect of air quality improvements on mental health outcomes, underscoring the inconsistency of findings across existing literature on pollution and mental health. These findings suggest that while environmental regulations may yield substantial physical health benefits, their influence on mental health outcomes remains uncertain.
Work in Progress:
Air Pollution and Road Safety: An Analysis of Fatal and Non-Fatal Car Crashes in Chicago (Draft available upon request)
Does Location of Exposure to Air Pollution Matter? Evidence from Commuting Patterns and Accident Risk