GENDERED BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES TO AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES: EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION AND WILDFIRE SMOKE ON PRODUCTIVITY AND WELFARE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS

Abstract

Agri-environmental policies (AEPs) are increasingly employed in developing countries to address environmental degradation, climate change, and agricultural sustainability. However, the effectiveness of these policies often depends on behavioral responses that vary across gender groups. This study investigates how air pollution and wildfire smoke influence productivity and welfare outcomes under agri-environmental policies, with a particular focus on gender differences. Using panel data from 1,200 rural households across India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ghana from 2015–2023, the study employs Fixed Effects (FE) and Random Effects (RE) models to estimate the impacts of environmental stressors on agricultural productivity and household welfare. The findings reveal that women experience significantly greater productivity losses and welfare reductions from pollution exposure compared to men. Female farmers demonstrate stronger support for environmental conservation measures and higher responsiveness to informational nudges. The results highlight the necessity of integrating gender-sensitive approaches into agri-environmental policy design. Policy recommendations include strengthening women's access to environmental information, financial resources, climate-resilient technologies, and decision-making institutions.