February 22, 2017
Are transit strikes a public health problem?
This video explains how a labor dispute can lead to an unhealthier city
Public transit strikes are an effective way for transit workers to prove their value to the city and gain leverage in contract negotiations. But do these strikes pose a public health risk as well? After all, more traffic on city streets could increase car accidents, spikes in air pollution, and wasted time behind the wheel. In a study appearing in the February 2017 issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, researchers Stefan Bauernschuster, Timo Hener, and Helmut Rainer studied 71 transit strikes across five major German cities. They found that strikes can lead to some serious health problems for a city's residents.