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Protecting China's children: valuing the health impacts of reduced air pollution in Chinese cities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2005

ROBERT W. MEAD  and
VICTOR BRAJER
ROBERT W. MEAD
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, California State University, Fullerton
VICTOR BRAJER
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, California State University, Fullerton
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Abstract

As China advances its overall program of economic development, many Chinese cities consistently suffer from unhealthy levels of air pollution. One of the groups most affected is children. This paper provides some quantification regarding the extent of various morbidity costs upon children in portions of urban China. Using China-based health-effects and valuation studies, the authors project, and value in dollar figures, the number of averted cases of childhood colds, bronchitis, asthma, and respiratory-related hospital visits resulting from a lowering of air pollution levels. The results indicate that these child morbidity benefits may be substantial, with a mid-range value of nearly $3.5 billion over the period 2002–2011.

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 10 , Issue 6 , December 2005 , pp. 745 - 768
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Portions of this paper were presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Western Economics Association. We are grateful to Andrew Gill, Marion Jones, Max Schneiser, Nick Farnum and two anonymous referees for key technical assistance and useful suggestions.