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Air pollution and worker productivity

Higher levels of air pollution reduce worker productivity, even when air quality is generally low

Matthew Neidell

Columbia University, USA, and IZA, Germany

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Elevator pitch

Environmental regulations are typically considered to be a drag on the economy. However, improved environmental quality may actually enhance productivity by creating a healthier workforce. Evidence suggests that improvements in air quality lead to improvements in worker productivity across a range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and the service sectors. These effects also arise at levels of air quality that are below pollution thresholds in countries with the highest levels of environmental regulation. The findings suggest a new approach for understanding the consequences of environmental regulations.

Effect of pollution on worker productivity

Key findings

Pros

Improvements in air quality have led to significant increases in worker productivity.

Poor air quality does not affect a worker’s decision to work or the number of hours worked, at least on a daily basis, for the levels of pollution found in nations with the highest levels of environmental regulation.

Air quality standards that lower pollution levels would likely lead to improvements in worker productivity.

Cons

Poor environmental quality reduces worker wages in settings where pay is based on performance.

Worker productivity captures more subtle effects of pollution, which are likely to be widespread.

Reduced worker productivity occurs at levels of pollution well within current air quality standards and guidelines.

Author's main message

Evidence suggests that pollution can reduce the productivity of individual workers. At the same time, environmental regulations are often considered to be a drag on the economy, as they can slow down production and lead to business closures and job losses, with resulting higher costs for consumers. Yet effective environmental regulations improve the air one breathes and the water one drinks, so those who keep their jobs are more likely to be healthier and more productive as a result. The extent to which these gains in worker productivity offset or even overcome the perceived negative effects of regulation is therefore an essential consideration for designing optimal environmental policy.

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