The Long-Run Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom

Ludovica Gazze, Claudia Persico and Sandra Spirovska

No 28782, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Children exposed to pollutants like lead are more disruptive and have lower achievement. However, little is known about whether lead-exposed children affect the long-run outcomes of their peers. We estimate these spillover effects using new data on preschool blood lead levels (BLLs) matched to education data for all students in North Carolina public schools. We compare siblings whose school-grade cohorts differ in the proportion of children with elevated BLLs, holding constant school and peers’ demographics. Having more lead-exposed peers is associated with lower high-school graduation and SAT-taking rates and increased suspensions and absences. Peer effects are larger for same-gendered students.

JEL-codes: I14 I24 Q52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-ure
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Published as Ludovica Gazze & Claudia Persico & Sandra Spirovska, 2024. "The Long-Run Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom," Journal of Labor Economics, vol 42(2), pages 357-394.

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Journal Article: The Long-Run Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom (2024)
Working Paper: The Long-Run Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom (2021)
Working Paper: The Long-Run Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom (2021)
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