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dc.titleBreathe Easy, There's an App for That: Using Information and Communication Technology to Avoid Air Pollution in Bogotá
dc.contributor.authorBlackman, Allen
dc.contributor.authorHoffmann, Bridget
dc.contributor.orgunitClimate Change and Sustainable Development Sector
dc.contributor.orgunitDepartment of Research and Chief Economist
dc.coverageColombia
dc.date.available2022-03-09T00:03:00
dc.date.issue2022-03-08T00:03:00
dc.description.abstractAmbient air pollution is a leading cause of death in developing countries. In theory, using smartphone apps, text messages, and other personal information and communication technologies to disseminate real-time information about such pollution can boost avoidance behavior like wearing face masks and closing windows. Yet evidence on their effectiveness is limited. We conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of training university students in Bogotá, Colombia to use a newly available municipal government smartphone app that displays real-time information on air quality. The training increased participants acquisition of information about air quality, their knowledge about avoidance behavior, and their actual avoidance behavior. It also enhanced their concern about other environmental issues. These effects were moderated by participants characteristics. For example, the training was generally less effective among job holders.
dc.format.extent55
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003725
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Breathe-Easy-Theres-an-App-for-That-Using-Information-and-Communication-Technology-to-Avoid-Air-Pollution-in-Bogota.pdf
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/spanish/document/Respira-facil-hay-una-aplicacion-para-eso-uso-de-tecnologias-de-la-informacion-y-la-comunicacion-para-evitar-la-contaminacion-del-aire-en-Bogota.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInter-American Development Bank
dc.subjectAir Quality
dc.subjectHealth
dc.subjectInformation System
dc.subjectInformation and Communication Technology
dc.subjectEnvironment and Natural Resource
dc.subjectMobile App
dc.subjectKnowledge
dc.subjectRandomized Controlled Trial
dc.subjectProcurement
dc.subjectWage
dc.subjectCoronavirus
dc.subjectEducational Institution
dc.subject.jelcodeQ53 - Air Pollution • Water Pollution • Noise • Hazardous Waste • Solid Waste • Recycling
dc.subject.jelcodeQ56 - Environment and Development • Environment and Trade • Sustainability • Environmental Accounts and Accounting • Environmental Equity • Population Growth
dc.subject.jelcodeQ58 - Government Policy
dc.subject.jelcodeI15 - Health and Economic Development
dc.subject.keywordsair pollution; Colombia; information; randomized controlled trial; experiment; smartphone application
dc.typeWorking Papers
idb.identifier.pubnumberIDB-WP-01271
idb.operationCO-T1560
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