The impact of air pollution on residents’ happiness — New evidence from CSS2021 data

In order to explore the impact of air pollution on residents’ happiness, this study empirically analyzes the effects of subjective air pollution perception and objective air pollution on residents’ happiness as well as the transmission mechanism based on the data from the 2021 Comprehensive Survey of Social Conditions in China (CSS2021) and the China Statistical Yearbook. The results of the study found that air pollution has a significant negative effect on residents’ happiness. Specifically, objective air pollution itself does not have a direct and significant effect on residents’ happiness, but the objective air pollution can reduce residents’ happiness level by affecting their subjective perception of air pollution. It was further found that the heterogeneity of residents’ individual characteristics also moderated the effect of air pollution perception on happiness, with men’s happiness more likely to be negatively affected by air pollution perception, and low-educated and low-income individuals more likely to have impaired happiness under the influence of air pollution perception. This study provides new ideas for the comprehensive management of air pollution to improve the overall happiness level of residents and to narrow the “happiness gap”.