Conference Agenda

This paper explores the development of PM2.5 pollution disparities in Europe since the beginning of this century. To this end, we track and analyze how regional PM2.5 concentration levels have evolved over time and investigate changes in the distribution of air pollution exposure across and within income groups (verti- cal and horizontal inequality). We document a meaningful improvement in air quality during the past two decades, which is particularly due to improvements in regions that were the most polluted at the beginning of the century. Cleaner regions also experienced notable improvements in air quality, although to a lesser extent. We find that PM2.5 exposure levels are distributed unequally along the income distribution (vertical inequality) which is exceeded, however, by air pol- lution inequality within income groups (horizontal inequality). Both of these inequality measures have remained comparatively constant throughout our study period, with slightly increases in both form of air inequality. By contrast, income inequality has decreased considerably over the time horizon. Our results suggest that Europe has avoided a “pollution-equity dilemma” concerning regional PM2.5 levels, indicating that regional growth did not necessarily lead to more pollution.