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Impact of work resumption on air quality after subsiding of COVID-19: evidence from China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2021

Guoguo Zhang Open the ORCID record for Guoguo Zhang [Opens in a new window] ,
Jingci Zhu ,
Weijie Luo  and
Honghong Zhang
Guoguo Zhang*
Affiliation:
Shanghai Academy, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
Jingci Zhu
Affiliation:
National School of Development, Peking University, Beijing, China School of Foreign Studies, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
Weijie Luo
Affiliation:
Center for China Fiscal Development, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
Honghong Zhang
Affiliation:
Information Engineering College, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, China School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: zhgg1982@126.com
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Abstract

This paper explores the short-run impact of work resumption, extensively launched on February 10, 2020 in China, on air quality after the subsiding of COVID-19. Utilizing the data of 1012 air-quality monitoring sites in 233 cities derived from the Real-time Release Air Quality Platform and the difference-in-differences method, we find that alternative measures of air quality index in non-Hubei provinces increase significantly, compared with those in Hubei province which was temporarily not allowed work resumption due to the severity of epidemic. Specifically, our results reveal a rise in AQI of 11.28 per cent, in PM2.5 of 12.47 per cent, in PM10 of 10.49 per cent, and in NO2 of 23.64 per cent, relative to the baseline mean. Moreover, the deterioration of air quality is found to be caused by intracity rather than intercity migration.

Keywords

air qualityCOVID-19difference-in-differenceswork resumption

JEL classification

R23: Regional Migration • Regional Labor Markets • Population • Neighborhood Characteristics Q53: Air Pollution • Water Pollution • Noise • Hazardous Waste • Solid Waste • Recycling
Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , August 2022 , pp. 374 - 392
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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