Can workers avoid the damaging effects of high levels of air pollution? The answer, it appears, is overwhelmingly linked to socio-economic status. Our recent study looks at how workers adjust their daily labor supply in response to increased concentrations of fine particulate matter known at PM 2.5, which originates, among other sources, from gasoline- and diesel-powered … [Read more...] about How Air Pollution Affects High- and Low-Income Workers Differently
Bridget Hoffmann
Bridget Hoffmann is an economist in the Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank. Her research interests are applied microeconomics, development economics, and environmental economics. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from Northwestern University in 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics and Mathematics from the University of Rochester.
Measuring Air Quality Better in Developing Countries
Low and middle-income countries are home to about 80% of the people in the world exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, with its numerous deleterious effects, including disease and mortality and diminished cognitive performance, labor supply and productivity. Yet those countries often lack the resources to accurately measure air pollution and determine how policies might … [Read more...] about Measuring Air Quality Better in Developing Countries
Can Digital Payments Boost the Impact of Social Programs?
With tens of millions of citizens receiving cash transfers from social programs each month, Latin America and Caribbean governments have long sought ways to improve payment delivery and boost financial inclusion to improve savings, access to credit, and overall welfare. One attempted solution is encouraging recipients to open bank accounts to receive digital cash transfer … [Read more...] about Can Digital Payments Boost the Impact of Social Programs?
New Tools for Targeting Social Programs in the Midst of Crises
In recent decades, dozens of countries around the world have adopted cash transfer programs to combat poverty and prevent it from being passed from generation to generation. While many of these programs have been highly successful at tackling long-term poverty, incomes fluctuate due to economic shocks and the target population of social programs move. During economic crises, … [Read more...] about New Tools for Targeting Social Programs in the Midst of Crises
Good Government and the Fight Against Air Pollution’s Mortal Threat
When we think of our personal health, we tend to focus on things like giving up tobacco and alcohol and ensuring good sanitation and cleanliness. Air pollution is not at the top of the list, but it belongs there. It is the greatest single external risk to health, reducing life expectancy by a global average of 2.3 years, according to the University of Chicago's 2023 Air Quality … [Read more...] about Good Government and the Fight Against Air Pollution’s Mortal Threat