Military training exercises, pollution, and their consequences for health

Gustavo Bobonis, Mark Stabile and Leonardo Tovar

Journal of Health Economics, 2020, vol. 73, issue C

Abstract: Militaries around the world perform training exercises in preparation for war. We study the relationship between in utero exposure to military exercises (bombing) and early-life health outcomes, combining data on naval bombing exercises in Vieques, Puerto Rico, and the universe of births from 1990 to 2003. Using a differences-in-differences design, we find that the sudden end of bombing practices is associated with a 56–79% decrease in the incidence of congenital anomalies. The evidence is generally consistent with the channel of environmental pollution through increases in contaminant levels in waters surrounding the live impact area.

Keywords: Infant health; Military activity; Environmental pollution; Maternal stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I14 I15 O1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Military Training Exercises, Pollution, and their Consequences for Health (2019)
Working Paper: Military Training Exercises, Pollution, and their Consequences for Health (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:73:y:2020:i:c:s0167629618311548

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2020.102345

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