Research

• Smoking Cessation as an Air Pollution Avoidance Behavior: the Unintended Benefit of Air Quality Information Disclosure in China (with Jiaojing Ding, Bohan Jin, and Zheming Yan, Revision Requested at JEBO)

Abstract: Air pollution and smoking are both significant economic factors and share intrinsic similarities, but their relationship has been unexplored. This paper provides the first causal investigation of the effect of air pollution on smoking. Using the rollout of a nationwide real-time air quality monitoring and disclosure program in China, we distinguish between the direct impact of air pollution by itself and the effect of enhanced awareness of air pollution. Drawing upon both individual-level survey data and city-level aggregate online search data, our findings indicate a lack of robust evidence supporting a direct impact of air pollution on smoking. However, we observe that an augmented awareness of air pollution resulting from informational exposure can lead to a reduction in smoking prevalence. Moreover, we demonstrate that this effect is particularly pronounced in major cities, attributed to the heightened media coverage of air pollution in these cities.

• The Political Economy of Air Pollution in China: Evidence from Political Leaders' visits

Abstract: This paper investigates influence activities in the context of China's political system by examining whether local officials would deliberately reduce daily air pollution in response to top central leaders' visits. I create a unique and comprehensive dataset of central leaders’ visits in China and examines the temporary effect of these visits on local air quality. I find that central leaders’ visits do improve air quality during high-pollution days, providing evidence of the existence of influencing activities. Moreover, the effect is much larger and more significant for the Presidents’ visits. Surprisingly, local officials' age and political connection status do not significantly influence the observed effect. One plausible explanation is that no one is willing to risk displeasing top leaders on the visiting day, especially considering that reducing air pollution for a short period entails relatively low costs.