Low emission zones in Sweden – Evidence from Uppsala

Abstract

High pollution levels have been a problem in many cities in the world. The high pollution levels affect public health and create high social and economic costs. In Sweden alone, the estimated number of premature deaths associated with air pollution was equal to 7,600 in 2015. One way of tackling the problem is the so-called low emission zones that prohibit the oldest and dirtiest vehicles from entering the most polluted areas of the cities. This thesis aims to investigate the effect of low emission zones using a difference in difference model for the city of Uppsala. Since nitrogen dioxide has been the main air pollutant target for Swedish cities, the analysis focuses on the nitrogen dioxide concentration. The results indicate that low emission zones in Uppsala do not seem to have an effect. This is to say, the low emission zone has failed to deliver on the policy target of lowering the nitrogen dioxide concentration.