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Something in the air? Air quality and children's educational outcomes

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  • Marcotte, Dave E.

Abstract

Poor air quality has been shown to harm the health and development of children. Research on these relationships has focused almost exclusively on the effects of human-made pollutants, and has not fully distinguished between contemporaneous and long-run effects. This paper contributes on both of these fronts. Merging data on ambient levels of human-made pollutants and plant pollen with detailed panel data of children beginning kindergarten in 2010, I study the relationship between poor air quality on achievement in early grades. I also provide tentative estimates of the effects of air quality in the first years of life on school-readiness. I find that students score between 1 to 2 percent lower on math and reading scores on days with high levels of pollen or fine airborne particulate matter, and that asthmatic students score about 10 percent lower on days with high levels of ozone. I find suggestive evidence that poor air quality during early childhood negatively affects school readiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcotte, Dave E., 2017. "Something in the air? Air quality and children's educational outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 141-151.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:56:y:2017:i:c:p:141-151
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2016.12.003
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    3. Brehm, Johannes & Pestel, Nico & Schaffner, Sandra & Schmitz, Laura, 2022. "From low emission zone to academic track: Environmental policy effects on educational achievement in elementary school," Ruhr Economic Papers 980, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
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    5. Timothy J. Halliday & Rachel Inafuku & Lester Lusher & Aureo de Paula, 2022. "VOG: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Impact of Air Pollution on Student Learning Outcomes," Working Papers 202203, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics.
    6. Alex Hollingsworth & Mike Huang & Ivan J. Rudik & Nicholas J. Sanders, 2020. "A Thousand Cuts: Cumulative Lead Exposure Reduces Academic Achievement," NBER Working Papers 28250, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    9. Hui Deng & Rui Du & Dongmei Guo & Weizeng Sun & Yuhuan Xia, 2023. "High‐stakes examinations and educational inequality: Evidence from transitory exposure to air pollution," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 546-571, July.
    10. Michael Gilraine & Angela Zheng, 2022. "Air Pollution and Student Performance in the U.S," Department of Economics Working Papers 2022-02, McMaster University.
    11. John Voorheis, 2017. "Air Quality, Human Capital Formation and the Long-term Effects of Environmental Inequality at Birth," CARRA Working Papers 2017-05, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    12. Kuroda, Yuta, 2022. "The effect of pollen exposure on consumption behaviors: Evidence from home scanner data," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    13. Lesly Cassin, 2020. "The effects of migration and pollution on cognitive skills in Caribbean economies: a theoretical analysis," Working Papers 2020.03, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
    14. Damini Singh & Indrani Gupta & Sagnik Dey, 2022. "Effect of Air Pollution on Cognitive Performance in India," IEG Working Papers 452, Institute of Economic Growth.
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    17. La Nauze, Andrea & Severnini, Edson R., 2021. "Air Pollution and Adult Cognition: Evidence from Brain Training," IZA Discussion Papers 14353, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    20. Apriesnig, Jenny L. & Manning, Dale T. & Suter, Jordan F. & Magzamen, Sheryl & Cross, Jennifer E., 2020. "Academic stars and Energy Stars, an assessment of student academic achievement and school building energy efficiency," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).

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