Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/207511 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12687
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper provides a large scale, empirical evaluation of unintended effects from invoking the precautionary principle after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. After the accident, all nuclear power stations ceased operation and nuclear power was replaced by fossil fuels, causing an exogenous increase in electricity prices. This increase led to a reduction in energy consumption, which caused an increase in mortality during very cold temperatures. We estimate that the increase in mortality from higher electricity prices outnumbers the mortality from the accident itself, suggesting the decision to cease nuclear production has contributed to more deaths than the accident itself.
Subjects: 
precuationary principle
nuclear energy
electricity
mortality
JEL: 
I12
K32
Q41
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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