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dc.contributor.advisorJohn M. Reilly.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMatus, Kira J. (Kira Jen)en_US
dc.contributor.otherMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Technology and Policy Program.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2006-03-29T18:30:29Z
dc.date.available2006-03-29T18:30:29Z
dc.date.copyright2005en_US
dc.date.issued2005en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32282
dc.descriptionThesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program, 2005.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 89-92).en_US
dc.description.abstractIn China, elevated levels of urban air pollution result in significant adverse health impacts for its large and rapidly growing urban population. An expanded version of the Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA), EPPA Health Effects China (EPPA-HEC), was used to evaluate air pollution-related health impacts on the Chinese economy. EPPA-HEC, a computable general equilibrium model, was expanded to endogenously estimate the economy- wide impacts of air pollution. The effects of particulate matter (PM 10), sulfur dioxide (S02) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were evaluated for 1970 to 2000, based on a set of epidemiological estimates of the effects of exposure to these pollutants. The estimated GDP impact to the Chinese economy of pollution levels above the WHO's recommended thresholds (ambient levels) increased from $15 ($23) billion in 1970 to $50 ($79) billion in 2000 (1997 $USD), despite improvements in overall air quality. This increase was caused by the growing urban population and rising wages that thus increased the value of lost labor and leisure. The benefit Damages as a percent of GDP decreased from a peak of 16% (10%) in 1975 to 7% (4%) in 2000 because the total size of the economy grew much more rapidly than the absolute air pollution damages. Forward simulations considered a cap on pollution, a greenhouse gas policy, and the two policies combined. The ancillary benefits from air pollution control resulting from the climate policy resulted in an increase in China's GDP of $2.4 billion in 2010. A scenario that caps air pollutant emissions at 2005 levels results in a $3.9 billion benefit to China's GDP in 2010, and the implementation of both policies results in a $5.8 billion benefit to China's GDP in 2010.en_US
dc.description.abstract(cont.) The simulations extended to 2025, and the beneficial effects of these policies increased over the period to $17.1 billion, $37.4 billion and $43.8 billion respectively. Taking both the future and the historical analyses together, it is clear that the size of the urban population, as well as the increasing value of time due to rising wages are two of the major drivers of the increasing absolute costs of pollution-related health impacts to the Chinese economy. Thus, urbanization and rising incomes and wage rates over time imply a rising marginal benefit to pollution control.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Kira J. Matus.en_US
dc.format.extent100 p.en_US
dc.format.extent4659664 bytes
dc.format.extent4665030 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
dc.subjectTechnology and Policy Program.en_US
dc.titleHealth impacts from urban air pollution in China : the burden to the economy and the benefits of policyen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeS.M.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
dc.contributor.departmentTechnology and Policy Program
dc.identifier.oclc61315210en_US


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