Environmental and health policy decisions should aim to equalize the benefits and costs of improving environmental quality or health services. While the benefits generally accrue in form of increased health, worker productivity and human capital, quality of life, and amenity values, the costs of environmental regulations are largely borne through potential impacts on labor markets. Successful policy development requires detailed and reliable information on the magnitude and determinants of these benefits and costs, even in the presence of market failures and externalities.

IZA's Environment, Health, and Labor Markets program area aims at providing credible empirical evidence on the impact of environmental factors and health policies on labor market outcomes, human capital outcomes, industrial activity, production decisions, and demographic outcomes.

View all IZA network members associated with this program area.