Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/229181 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 774
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
This paper investigates the impacts of COVID-19 safer-at-home polices on collisions and pollution. We find that statewide safer-at-home policies lead to a 20% reduction in vehicular collisions and that the effect is entirely driven by less severe collisions. For pollution, we find particulate matter concentration levels approximately 1.5µg/m3 lower during the period of a safer-at-home order, representing a 25% reduction. We document a similar reduction in air pollution following the implementation of similar policies in Europe. We calculate that as of the end of June 2020, the benefits from avoided car collisions in the U.S. were approximately $16 billion while the benefits from reduced air pollution could be as high as $13 billion.
Subjects: 
COVID-19
safer-at-home
lockdowns
air pollution
car crashes
JEL: 
P48
Q53
Q58
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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