Noise and Learning: Evidence from India

Arzi Adbi, Sumit Agarwal and Pulak Ghosh

Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 2026, vol. 13, issue 6, 1437 - 1464

Abstract: Despite high noise pollution, empirical research on the impact of noise on learning in developing economies has been sparse. We investigate this question by analyzing spatial and temporal variation in noise pollution recorded by monitoring stations in India and academic performance in high-stakes Class 12 examinations across schools. We find that a 10-percentage-point increase in noisy days during the exam quarter is associated with a 2.3% increase in the failure rate of Class 12 boys. This pattern is not gender neutral, as no association between noise pollution and failure rate is observed for girls. We do not find any effect of noise pollution recorded during non-exam months. By documenting how noise pollution hinders learning in India and shedding light on cognitive burden explanation, our study highlights an overlooked threat to human capital accumulation in developing economies and underscores the importance of integrating noise pollution mitigation strategies into education and urban policies.

Date: 2026
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