Air-Pollution Control in an Emergent Market: Does It Work? Evidence from Romania

Evolution of Romania's Economic Structure and Environment Degradation - An Assessment Through LMDI Decomposition Approach

Purpose

This paper studies the relationships between air pollutants (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, N₂O) and different diseases (tumors, skin and respiratory) and the factors influencing air pollutant emissions in Romania.

Methods

The methods are Toda-Yamamoto procedure of non-causality Granger test, grey relational analysis and logarithmic mean Divisia index method (LMDI).

Results

Air pollutants intensities dropped significantly over 2008–2017 period due to structural changes. The only economic activity that showed an increase both in volume and intensity of air pollutants, despite a downward trend of farming activities output is agriculture. Technology improvements play a significant role in mitigation of PM_2.5 emissions and a moderate role in mitigation of PM₁₀ emissions. For N₂O emissions technology used contributed to an increase of N₂O intensities.

Conclusion

Health policy makers should address the issue of technology improvements and mitigation of agriculture emissions to improve health of individuals and air quality.