A Watershed Moment: The Clean Water Act and Birth Weight

Patrick Flynn and Michelle Marcus

Journal of Human Resources, 2025, vol. 60, issue 6, 1915-1936

Abstract: The Clean Water Act (CWA) significantly improved surface water quality, but at a cost exceeding the estimated benefits. We quantify the effect of the CWA on a direct measure of health. Using a difference-in-differences framework, we compare birth weight upstream and downstream from wastewater treatment facilities before and after CWA grant receipt. Pollution only decreased downstream from facilities required to upgrade their treatment technology, and we leverage this additional variation with a triple difference. Clean Water Act grants increased average birth weight by 8 grams.

JEL-codes: H51 I18 Q51 Q53 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0622-12369R2
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:60:y:2025:i:6:p:1915-1936

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