APL (Ajiken Power Lunch)

APL (Ajiken Power Lunch) is a lunchtime workshop open to public, including IDE staffs, visiting research fellows, IDEAS students, outside researchers and graduate students. This workshop provides a platform for presentation of any work in progress where we can discuss in either English or Japanese.

Those who would attend a seminar are asked to announce yourself to receptionists on your arrival at the IDE and to obtain APL Organizers' signature on your admission card after the seminar.

October 1, 2015. (Thursday) 12：30-14：00

Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization C23 Meeting Room 　

Air pollution and food prices: Evidence from Beijing, China

Air pollution becomes a top environmental concern in China. During the days of severe air pollution, people (both consumers and producers) often reduce outdoor economic activities in order to avoid possible health damages. It will inevitably impact the market trade of fresh food products. Theoretically, the changes in market equilibrium will be determined by the impact difference between supply and demand.

Empirically, this paper sheds light on three major fresh food products consumed by Chinese consumers (Chinese cabbage, tomato, and pork), and studies the impact of air pollution on their prices in Beijing city. We find that all three prices show significant responses to air quality measured by PM2.5, though the effects are slightly different.

Prof. Xiaohua Yu (University of Göttingen)

Satoru SHIMOKAWA

English