Work

The Impact of Air Pollution on Movie Theater Admissions

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: We provide new evidence of pollution avoidance in the movie theater market. Our analysis is based on a unique dataset of high-frequency movie ticket sales in China at the movie- and city-level during 2012–2014. We estimate that one pollution day reduces the market share of a movie by 2.26%, other things being equal. The effect is mainly through ambient pollution exposure during transportation to the theater. On average, popular movies are inelastic to air pollution. However, as air quality deteriorates, even blockbuster movies start to suffer a box-office loss during the heavy pollution episodes.

Source: Journal of Environmental Economics and Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2022.102626

Authors: Xiaobo He, Zijun Luo, Junjie Zhang

Institutions: The University of Adelaide, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Duke University, Duke Kunshan University

Language: English

Topic: Air Quality and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,100

Funders: Colgate University, National Natural Science Foundation of China