The Effect of Air Pollution on Mortality: Evidence from Wildfire Smoke in Mexico

Abstract

I study the causal effect of wildfire smoke exposure on mortality in Mexico by merging data on smoke plumes with administrative records to leverage daily variation in smoke and show that smoke coverage increases air pollution and mortality significantly. Effects are high compared to the U.S. and within Mexico the effects are larger in poorer municipalities. The paper provides new evidence on short-term effects of smoke and suggests key heterogeneity in the harms of air pollution by income.