15 August 2024
Dr An will present the findings of his recent working paper, "Extreme Wildfires, Distant Air Pollution, and Household Financial Health". This is a joint work with Stuart A Gabriel (UCLA Anderson School of Management) & Nitzan Tzur-Ilan (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas). This research uses detailed wildfire burn data, satellite smoke plume data, and ground-level pollution data to estimate the effects of extreme wildfires and related air pollution events on housing and consumer financial behaviour.
Key insights
- Increased spending, indebtedness, and loan delinquencies among households exposed to high levels of air pollution, even beyond burn perimeters.
- A health-related spending channel in explanation of the adverse financial effects.
- Higher levels of delinquency among renters in burn zones, especially those with lower credit scores.
Dr An's work provides novel evidence on the far-reaching financial impacts of wildfires, affecting both direct burn areas and distant regions impacted by wildfire-attributed air pollution. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from Dr An's extensive research and expertise in financial stability, risk management, and consumer finance.