Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Air pollution is a substantial risk to human health in the 21st century. The World Health Organization reports that merely 1 in 10 individuals reside in regions with air quality below recommended standards, resulting in 7 million deaths each year - one in eight fatalities worldwide. The article examines the complex relationship between air pollution and economic growth, emphasizing the effects of declining air quality on economic development. This study aims to fill this vacuum by examining the detrimental effects of air pollution on China's economic growth, particularly concerning PM2.5 and other pollutants. The findings suggest that pollution significantly hampers growth, causing losses in productivity, health, and economic activities across several sectors. Additionally, the study reviews air quality regulations in Europe, highlighting the economic benefits of stricter pollution controls. The report finishes by highlighting the necessity for more stringent policies to reduce pollution in order to foster sustainable economic growth.
Author: Zonglan Wei
Institution: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4405818545