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Coal use, air pollution, and student performance

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  • Duque, Valentina
  • Gilraine, Michael

Abstract

Coal is a primary source of both global energy and air pollution. This paper presents the first causal evidence of the impact of pollution due to coal power plant emissions on cognitive outcomes. Our approach combines rich longitudinal student data with a design leveraging year-to-year coal plant emissions, persistent wind patterns, and also plant closures. We find that every one million megawatt hours of coal-fired power production decreases mathematics scores in schools within ten kilometers by 0.02σ. Gas-fired plants exhibit no such relationship. Our analysis indicates that declining coal use has affected student performance and test score inequality substantially.

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  • Duque, Valentina & Gilraine, Michael, 2022. "Coal use, air pollution, and student performance," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:213:y:2022:i:c:s0047272722001141
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104712
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    Cited by:

    1. Avila Uribe, Antonio, 2023. "The effect of air pollution on US aggregate production," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118481, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Pham, Linh & Roach, Travis, 2023. "Particulate pollution and learning," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. Zhu, Mingxue & Zhang, Hua & Xing, Wanli & Zhou, Xuanru & Wang, Lu & Sun, Haoyu, 2023. "Research on price transmission in Chinese mining stock market: Based on industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Gabriele Curci & Domenico Depalo & Alessandro Palma, 2023. "The Dirtier You Breathe, The Less Safe You Are. The Effect of Air Pollution on Work Accidents," CEIS Research Paper 554, Tor Vergata University, CEIS, revised 24 May 2023.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air Pollution; Coal Power; Education; Cognitive Outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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