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Effects of Early Childhood Exposure to Pollution on Crime: Evidence from 1970 Clean Air Act

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  • Divya Sadana

    (University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire)

Abstract

Past literature has shown that 1970 amendments to the clean air act (CAA) led to significant reduction in air pollution early 1970s, and that it had positive infant health consequences for the cohorts treated by CAA. Because effects of in-utero and early childhood conditions are persistent, and the health effects can remain latent for years, CAA may impact the future adult outcomes. In this paper, I investigate the impact of the CAA on the future crime. In a difference-in-differences framework, I find that the cohorts that were born in the year of the CAA’s first implementation commit fewer crimes 15–24 years later. The magnitude of this impact is about 6%. Property crimes rather than violent crimes are impacted. I also estimate that CAA reduced the ambient air pollution by 17%. These reduced form estimates suggest that a 1% reduction in air pollution reduces future crime rate by 0.35%.

Suggested Citation

  • Divya Sadana, 2023. "Effects of Early Childhood Exposure to Pollution on Crime: Evidence from 1970 Clean Air Act," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(1), pages 279-312, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:84:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10640-022-00724-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-022-00724-8
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pollution; Crime; Birthweight; Education; Employment status; Earnings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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