On October 4, 2022, NU GSPP hosted the Webinar with Dr. Shun Wang, a tenured professor at KDI School of Public Policy and Management (Korea), on the topic of Gray Skies and Blue Moms: The Effect of Air Pollution on Parental Life Satisfaction.

SYNOPSIS
We show that individuals report lower life satisfaction in response to worsening air quality if young children are present in the household. This observed impact is driven by the subpopulation of mothers, and it attenuates as children grow older. We conclude that mothers’ disproportionate responsibility for child-rearing and children’s higher vulnerability to air pollution are the likely channels that mediate the relationship. Our findings provide robust evidence on the importance of taking the presence of young children and parental family roles into account when calculating the monetary value of air quality using the life satisfaction approach.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Shun Wang is a tenured professor at KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Korea. He obtained the Ph.D. in Economics at University of British Columbia, M.A. in Economics and B.A. in Business Administration at Peking University. His research lies mainly in subjective well-being, economic development, and Chinese economy. This ongoing research agenda has led to new insights in the relationship between socioeconomic environment and happiness. His papers were published in many economics and interdisciplinary journals. He is an associate editor and founding member of the World Happiness Report. He is also a member of the Global Happiness Council and chairs the Wellbeing Measurement committee. He has been a consultant for the Asia Development Bank and the World Bank.

VENUE AND TIME

• Zoom session
• October 4, 2022, 
• 17:45 (Astana time)

Watch the full video from the past NU GSPP Webinar: