Title

The Economics of Global Light Pollution

Abstract

This paper is the first analysis of the economic factors of global light pollution. Light pollution commonly refers to excessive or obtrusive artificial light caused by bad lighting design. Light pollution generates significant costs including negative impacts on wildlife, health, astronomy, and wasted energy—which in the U.S. amounts to nearly 7 billion dollars annually. Current scientific models of light pollution are purely population based. The current paper utilizes unique remote sensing data and economic data from the World Bank to quantify the economic causes of light pollution globally. Fractional logit models show that, similar to other types of pollution, both population and GDP are significant explanatory variables.

Department(s)

Economics

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.https://doi.org/10.003

Keywords

light pollution, remote sensing, DMSP, fractional logit, EKC

Publication Date

2009

Journal Title

Ecological economics

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