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Economic Inequality and Environmental Quality: Evidence of Pollution Shifting in Russia
PERI Working Papers
  • Marina S. Vornovytskyy., University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • James K. Boyce, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Working Paper Number
217
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Disciplines
Comments
Working Paper 217
Abstract

This paper utilizes the Russian Statistical Agency's data on air pollution in Russia to analyze the impact of economic inequalities among Russia's regions on environmental degradation. Controlling for the absolute level of income, we find that regions with lower incomes relative to those of neighboring regions have more uncontrolled air pollution. Differences in uncontrolled pollution do not appear to be attributable to differences in spending on pollution control, suggesting that facility siting provides the dominant explanation. In addition, we find that greater within-region inequalities in income and in the provision of public goods are associated with greater uncontrolled air pollution.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/1285925
Citation Information
Marina S. Vornovytskyy. and James K. Boyce. "Economic Inequality and Environmental Quality: Evidence of Pollution Shifting in Russia" (2010)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/james_boyce/4/