Pollution levels play a significant role in the decisions made by households regarding relocation within the United States. However, a recent study indicates that only wealthier households can afford to move to areas with better air quality.
Pollution levels influence households’ decisions to relocate within the United States, but only wealthier households can afford areas with better air quality, as revealed by a new study.
Research conducted by the Lancaster University Management School and published in Environmental and Resource Economics analyzes county-to-county migration data from 2010 to 2014, supplied by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The study controls for various factors that influence a household’s choice of a new county—such as job opportunities and local amenities—and emphasizes that environmental quality is a significant factor in destination selection.
“We believe our study is the first to delve into how both household income and environmental quality impact the decisions households make about relocation,” states Dr. Aurelie Slechten from Lancaster University, a co-author of the study.
“Our findings highlight the inequalities in exposure to pollution, showing that poorer families bear the brunt. Wealthier households tend to move to cleaner, healthier neighborhoods, which are often pricier. In contrast, lower-income families are unable to afford these areas, leading them to relocate to places with higher pollution levels.”
This study employs detailed data on the origin and destination of households, instead of merely analyzing overall migration trends. It reveals a clear correlation between a household’s income and the county they choose to reside in. Households that move to less polluted areas tend to earn more than the average in their previous communities, whereas those earning below the average typically relocate to more polluted locations.
“This evidence shows that improving air quality standards and Toxic Release Inventory reporting is not enough for true environmental justice. We must also address income inequality, as some families are compelled to live in more polluted areas, potentially leading to unhealthier lifestyles,” adds Dr. Anita Schiller, also from Lancaster University.
This new research builds on previous studies by the authors that explored whether firms responsible for pollution choose their locations based on population demographics. Their focus on Texas revealed that lower-income areas are more likely to attract potentially polluting businesses.
Professor Dakshina De Silva, a co-author of the study from the Lancaster University Management School, commented: “This situation creates a cycle where polluting firms deliberately set up in lower-income neighborhoods, imposing environmental burdens disproportionately on vulnerable communities. Meanwhile, wealthier households can ‘vote with their feet’ to escape these adverse effects.”
“To break this cycle and foster sustainable communities for everyone, it is essential to tackle both environmental justice and economic inequality.”
