Coal use, air pollution, and student performance

Valentina Duque and Michael Gilraine

Journal of Public Economics, 2022, vol. 213, issue C

Abstract: Coal is a primary source of both global energy and air pollution. This paper presents the first causal evidence of the impact of pollution due to coal power plant emissions on cognitive outcomes. Our approach combines rich longitudinal student data with a design leveraging year-to-year coal plant emissions, persistent wind patterns, and also plant closures. We find that every one million megawatt hours of coal-fired power production decreases mathematics scores in schools within ten kilometers by 0.02σ. Gas-fired plants exhibit no such relationship. Our analysis indicates that declining coal use has affected student performance and test score inequality substantially.

Keywords: Air Pollution; Coal Power; Education; Cognitive Outcomes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I24 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:213:y:2022:i:c:s0047272722001141

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104712

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