TY  - JOUR
AU  - Neidell,Matthew J.
TI  - Information, Avoidance Behavior, and Health:  The Effect of Ozone on Asthma Hospitalizations
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 14209
PY  - 2008
Y2  - July 2008
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14209
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w14209.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Matthew J. Neidell
Department of Health Policy and Management
Columbia University
600 W 168th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10032
Tel: 212/342-4522
Fax: 212/305-3405
E-Mail: mn2191@columbia.edu
AB  - This paper assesses whether responses to information about risk impact estimates of the relationship between ozone and asthma in Southern California. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find smog alerts significantly reduces daily attendance at two major outdoor facilities. Using daily time-series regression models that include year-month and small area fixed effects, I find estimates of the effect of ozone for children and the elderly that include information are significantly larger than estimates that do not. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that individuals take substantial action to reduce exposure to risk; estimates ignoring these actions are severely biased.
ER  -