Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Hardeep  Singh Amale
Author-Name-First: Hardeep 
Author-Name-Last: Singh Amale
Author-Email: hardeep.singh@iitjammu.ac.in
Author-Workplace-Name: Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu 
Author-Name: Digvijay  S. Negi
Author-Name-First: Digvijay 
Author-Name-Last: S. Negi
Author-Email: digvijay.negi@ashoka.edu.in
Author-Workplace-Name: Ashoka University
Title: Fire in the Fields, Crime in the Air
Abstract: We exploit seasonal crop residue burning as a source of pollution and use exogenous year to-year variation in wind direction to estimate the impact of rural sources of air pollution on crime in India. We find that short term pollution exposure leads to an increase in violent crime, public order offenses, and most worringly, violent crimes against women. Estimates suggest an unaccounted social cost of USD 600 million just from pollution exposure in the rice harvest season. We explore three channels: (i) pollution induced aggression and weakened impulse control, (ii) reduced visibility leading to poor deterrence, and (iii) income distress from reduced earnings. Heterogeneity by crime type and spatial variation in law enforcement capacity support these mechanisms. Our findings highlight the need to account for issues of public safety and social instability in environmental and agricultural policy in developing countries.
length: 35
Creation-Date: 20250806
Revision-Date: 
Publication-Status: 
File-URL:/www/wwwashokaeduin_628/public/dp/RePEc/ash/wpaper/paper152_0.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf 
Number: 152
Handle: RePEc:ash:wpaper:152