Environmental and Urban Economics

Imagine if there is an infectious disease that spreads within cities but not across cities.   Throughout the COVID crisis, the city specific infection rate has varied across cities at each point in time.  In a city facing a rising infection rate, people can adapt by either engaging in costly self protection (self isolating) or through public health interventions --- such as vaccinating the local population.  In this case, public health substitutes for private health protection investments.

My wife and I own a well known Electric Vehicle that monitors our driving in Southern California. The car company knows how many miles we drive and the car company knows that Dora is a safe driver based on her average speed and the braking she engages in and the fact that she doesn't engage in stop and go driving.  While I have a driver's license, I do not drive.