Michele Ubaldi (University of Turin) and Enza Simeone (University of Turin)

Postdocs/RTDA Seminars

Michele Ubaldi (University of Turin)

“Re-exhuming the old hatchet: The effects of affirmative action policies on political preferences in post-apartheid South Africa”

Abstract: This paper studies whether affirmative action policies towards the least privileged groups may foster a backlash by the most privileged group. We exploit the unique historical context provided by the legacy of apartheid in democratic South Africa. We find that the completion of the affirmative action legislation increased the support for far-right parties in national elections by 0.2% to 0.3% on average. We find that this effect is stronger in areas located close to the territories of the former homelands. We also find that affirmative action changed the voting intentions of the individuals. This effect is primarily driven by increased self-perceived economic insecurity. Finally, we do not find evidence of an effect of the legislation on increased ethnic violence.

Joint work with Alessandro Belmonte and Davide Ticchi 

Enza Simeone (University of Turin)

Abstract: In recent years, urban sustainability initiatives have gained increasing attention as regions and cities seek to mitigate environmental degradation and improve public health. In this paper, we analyze the extent to which mortality may have increased due to the concentration of air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM 2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O₃). Specifically, we analyze the potential impact of Smart Cities projects on the evolution of air pollution across European cities and regions. To do so, we build a rich panel dataset over the 2013-2022 period, merging information at NUTS 3 level in Europe with information for around 642 large European cities. By comparing the differential evolution in mortality in cities where “smart” projects were implemented vs other cities, this study seeks to identify whether the adoption of these projects led to measurable reductions in mortality. Our findings aim to contribute to the growing dialogue on sustainable urban governance by i) studying the co-evolution on the concentration of air pollutants and mortality in European regions and cities over the last years, and ii) assessing the effectiveness of EU Green City projects in reducing air pollution and enhancing public health.

Joint work with  Alessia Casamassima, David Castells-Quintana, Enza Simeone