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Air Pollution Causes Violent Crime

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony Heyes

    (Department of Economics, University of Ottawa)

  • Soodeh Saberian

    (PhD student, Department of Economics, University of Ottawa)

Abstract
Scientific evidence is that ozone exposure induces aggression, irritability, impulsivity and loss-of-control in humans, mice, monkeys and other animals. Consistent with this we use data from Los Angeles to generate the first evidence causally linking day-to-day variations in air quality to violent crime. The effect is substantial. Using IV methods with wind direction as instrument our preferred specification points to a 17% increase in assaults for a 10 ppb increase in daily fine particulate pollution. We also identify very small positive impacts of carbon monoxide (CO). The results satisfy a wide set of robustness checks. Cost-benefit analyses that fail to account for these effects will substantially under-estimate the case for air quality regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Heyes & Soodeh Saberian, 2015. "Air Pollution Causes Violent Crime," Working Papers 1514E, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ott:wpaper:1514e
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    File URL: http://sciencessociales.uottawa.ca/economics/sites/socialsciences.uottawa.ca.economics/files/1514e.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephan Heblich & Alex Trew & Yanos Zylberberg, 2021. "East-Side Story: Historical Pollution and Persistent Neighborhood Sorting," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(5), pages 1508-1552.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Valuation of air quality; Non-health impacts of pollution; crime;
    All these keywords.

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