Post-Diwali Air Pollution in New Delhi

The Tragedy of the Commons

Most of the ecological crises of shared common resources are a result of the conflicting self-interests of individuals with that of social interests. More than often, self-interests seem to overpower the latter. This is known as the Tragedy of the Commons. One example of such a tragedy is the pressing issue of air pollution in New Delhi which gets severe in the winter months, especially after the festival of Diwali. The existing literature shows the causal relationship between firecrackers and increased air pollution. This study approaches post-Diwali air pollution using the apparatus of the theory of the tragedy of the commons. In this paper, we use PM2.5 AQI levels, at 20:00 hours, in Delhi for a thirteen-day period that includes Diwali in 2017, 2018 and 2019. We have applied paired t-test on our data to analyze the impact of Supreme Court orders that regulate the use of firecrackers. The results suggest that these orders have had a statistically significant role in reducing the level of air pollution after Diwali. The impact also depends upon the efficacy with which the orders are implemented.

Keywords: Tragedy of the commons; air pollution; Diwali; New Delhi

Meet the Authors

Aruma Khan

Department of Economics, JMI 

Aruma is a post-graduate student and an aspiring researcher from New Delhi. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and is currently a student of M. A. Economics in Jamia Millia Islamia.

Asra Ishfaq

Department of Economics, JMI 

Asra is a post-graduate student at the Department of Economics in Jamia Millia Islamia. She did her graduation in Political Science and Economics from Miranda House, University of Delhi.

Khansa Riaz

Department of Economics, JMI 

Khansa grew passionate about economics during her graduation in Mathematics at Miranda House, Delhi University. She chose to make a profession in this field. She went on to pursue her masters in economics from Jamia Millia Islamia and is desirous of becoming an economist.

Email: [email protected]

Abida Talmiz

Department of Economics, JMI 

Adiba has graduated with a B.A. degree, majoring in Economics from Jamia Millia Islamia, a Central University in New Delhi. She is currently pursuing her post-graduation in M.A. Economics from the same. She’s an aspiring researcher particularly interested in fields of Environmental Economics, the MSME Sector, International Trade and Public Services.

Email: [email protected]