Low Emission Zones in Europe

The aim of this paper is to review the effectiveness and consequences of low emission zones in European cities. A literature review presents the general framework and previous research on the topic. The focus of the literature review will be on the causes and effects of air pollution and on the economic consequences of an LEZ. The empirical research will investigate the efficiency of an LEZ in improving the air quality. It does so by reviewing the developments of PM10 levels in multiple industries and countries over a five-year period. Additionally, the results of cities with an LEZ are compared to a control group. It is concluded that although the presence of an LEZ seems to have a positive effect on air quality in European cities, no significant conclusions can be drawn about the exact size or nature of the effect.