Fetal Pollution Exposure, Cognitive Ability, and Gender-specific Parental Investment

Xin Zhang, Yixuan Wang, Xingyi Hu and Xi Chen

No 35591, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We examine how prenatal exposure to air pollution interacts with gender-biased parental investments to shape long-run cognitive performance. Using nationally representative survey data from China, we show that fetal PM2.5 exposure significantly reduces cognitive ability for women, particularly among those with brothers. Our evidence suggests that the family investment channel operates primarily through education rather than health, with gender-biased educational resource allocation compounding negative outcomes for females. Specifically, conditional on the same level of fetal PM2.5 exposure, females receive less homework assistance from their families and attain lower levels of education.

JEL-codes: D13 I14 I24 J13 J16 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-08
Note: CH DEV EEE EH PE
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Working Paper: Fetal Pollution Exposure, Cognitive Ability, and Gender-Specific Parental Investment (2024)
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