RIEB Discussion Paper Series No.2023-17

Title

Seasonal Allergies and Accidents

Abstract

Seasonal allergies affect over 400 million people globally, yet the broader economic consequences of pollen exposure remain understudied. Evidence from Japan’s ambulance records suggests that high-pollen days are associated with increases in accidents, including traffic accidents and work-related injuries, which may reflect impaired cognitive performance. Retail scanner data and cellphone mobility records indicate that individuals already engage in avoidance behaviors, such as purchasing allergy products and limiting outdoor activities on weekends. This suggests that relying on individual self-protection may be insufficient to offset these risks, and thus greater government intervention may be warranted to mitigate pollen-related harm.

Keywords

Seasonal allergies; Pollen; Accidents; Cognition; Avoidance behaviors; Climate change

JEL Classification

I12, J24, Q51, Q53, Q54

Inquiries

Mika AKESAKA
Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration (RIEB)
Kobe University
Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe
657-8501 Japan
Phone: +81-78-803-7036
FAX: +81-78-803-7059

Hitoshi SHIGEOKA
Department of Economics, Simon Fraser University
Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER)