Glyphosate Use in Agriculture and Birth Outcomes of Surrounding Populations

Mateus Dias (), Rudi Rocha and Rodrigo Soares
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Mateus Dias: Princeton University

No 12164, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper assesses the impact of glyphosate use in agriculture on birth outcomes of human populations in surrounding areas. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. Still, despite ongoing controversy, little is known about its effects on human populations at large. Our empirical strategy relies on the fact that glyphosate is strongly complementary to the use of genetically modified seeds in soybean production. We use an instrument based on the gains in productivity from adoption of genetically modified soybeans and look at externalities across municipalities sharing the same water resources. We detect negative and statistically significant effects of glyphosate use on birth outcomes. Our results indicate externality effects of glyphosate use on populations distant from the original locations of use, but receiving water from these locations.

Keywords: infant mortality; birth outcomes; herbicides; glyphosate; water; externalities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 O33 Q15 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 49 pages
Date: 2019-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-env
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published - published in: Review of Economic Studies, 2023, 90 (6), 2943-2981

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