Particulate pollution and learning

Linh Pham and Travis Roach

Economics of Education Review, 2023, vol. 92, issue C

Abstract: Exposure to PM2.5 pollution is detrimental to health and cognitive function, and at early ages, inhibits learning. Using standardized achievement data at the school-district-grade level for 3rd- through 8th-grade students for the entire United States from 2009–2016, we show that variation in ambient PM2.5 concentrations and particularly polluted days reduce student learning. For a school district at the 90th percentile of PM2.5 concentrations we find an approximate 7.5% of a standard deviation reduction in achievement due to pollution. We further find that cumulative and year-round exposure matters in determining the full effect of PM2.5 on student learning, and that younger students in particular are harmed. Our results provide external validity to the received literature that has been limited in its geographic scope.

Keywords: PM2.5; Human capital development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H23 L94 Q48 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:92:y:2023:i:c:s0272775722001170

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2022.102344

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