Light Pollution: Economic Valuation Methods and a Market Solution

Abstract

Light pollution has not been a significant problem until the 1980s. This paper reviews literature focused on light pollution both from economic and technological perspectives. Prior studies mainly investigated the diverse impacts of light pollution on human health, ecosystem, energy loss and night sky and reasons for light pollution. But the studies focused on economic valuation of light pollution are rare and incomplete. Meanwhile, while legislation aimed at reducing light pollution has been exerted by many countries and areas and planing the lighting system scientifically has been suggested by some scholars, a market solution has not been proposed. This paper proposes methods to quantify economic cost of light pollution and the market solutions to reduce light pollution, including giving property right to the environment and increasing electricity price. The proposed valuation methods will serve as important tools for calculating economic cost of light pollution. The market solution based on the economic cost figured out then will use economic incentives to mitigate light pollution in areas affected by it heavily.

The Effects of Artificial Light Pollution on Human Health

“…Jun Su (2022) writes about the economic and legislative side of light pollution, all while stating the negative health effects it comes with. In addition to proposing methods to quantify the economic cost of light pollution and market solutions to reduce it, they reaffirm that residents' mental and physical health are negatively influenced and that observing our stars is becoming increasingly more difficult.…”