Ann James
Ph.D Candidate
Job Market Candidate, 2024-25
Economics
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References: Yiqun Chen, Ben Feigenberg, Darren Lubotsky
Job Market Paper: Pollution Salience, Health, and Health Behaviors
Abstract: Regulating toxic industrial pollutants can improve local access to pollution information, potentially leading to changes in health outcomes and behaviors. This paper examines the first statewide policy in New Hampshire to regulate Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water to examine its impact on mortality and healthcare utilization among residents exposed to industrial pollution. Using a difference-in-difference model based on proximity to the polluting manufacturing facilities, I find that the PFAS regulation increased healthcare utilization, and investment in preventive care, and lowered mortality by 7\% among residents of a broader area than defined by contaminated drinking water. The findings highlight that both the costs of industrial pollution and the benefits of regulation can extend beyond boundaries defined by water quality violations.