By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – You can count the U.S. job market and economy among the things the Canadian wildfires affect. The Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois is looking at the fires through an economic lens.
It’s tough to measure, because as David Molitor points out, positive economic activity can generate air pollution, too …
“Wildfire smoke is a good example of what we call in economics an externality, which is when actions taken by one individual have impacts – costs or benefits – for someone else.
“And wildfire smoke does not stay in one place. It travels a long way.”
Molitor, an associate professor of finance and economics, says this can hold down incomes and productivity.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
