Understanding How Low Levels of Early Lead Exposure Affect Children’s Life Trajectories

Hans Grönqvist, J. Peter Nilsson and Per-Olof Robling

Journal of Political Economy, 2020, vol. 128, issue 9, 3376 - 3433

Abstract: We study the impact of lead exposure from birth to adulthood and provide evidence on the mechanisms producing these effects. Following 800,000 children differentially exposed to the phaseout of leaded gasoline in Sweden, we find that even a low exposure affects long-run outcomes, that boys are more affected, and that changes in noncognitive skills explain a sizeable share of the impact on crime and human capital. The effects are greater above exposure thresholds still relevant for the general population, and reductions in exposure equivalent to the magnitude of the recent redefinition of elevated blood lead levels can increase earnings by 4%.

Date: 2020
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