College
College of Business Administration
Date of Last Revision
2024-06-04 06:51:19
Major
Economics
Honors Course
ECON 497-001
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2024
Abstract
Air Quality significantly impacts public health, particularly for individuals with respiratory issues. Cap-and-trade (CAT) programs aim to mitigate emissions, focusing on greenhouse gases to improve air quality. This paper evaluated the long-run effectiveness of CAT programs, comparing multi-sector and single-sector initiatives, and their impact on air quality across counties with varying economic statuses. Using a difference-in-difference approach, comprehensive data spanning recent years up to 2023 is analyzed. The dataset includes air quality measures, population, personal income, average temperature, precipitation, and vehicle registrations enabling a thorough examination of the programs’ effects. Results reveal a complex relationship. Both programs’ initiatives create a decrease in good air quality days for poor counties. The multi-sector programs demonstrate a more significant reduction in negative air quality days, such as moderate and very unhealthy, particularly benefiting poor counties. Conversely, poor counties with single-sector programs experience an increase in negative air quality. The results from this work conclude that multi-sector programs are more beneficial for poor counties, yet all program types need to make changes for maximum impact.
Research Sponsor
Sucharita Ghosh
First Reader
Dr. Nicholas Glenn
Second Reader
Dr. Ai Enami
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Ali Enami
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Bobbs, Nicole, "Cap-and-Trade and Air Quality: Which Communities Benefit the Most?" (2024). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1799.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1799