Air Pollution and Early Childhood Outcomes: Evidence from Georgia Childcare Providers

Mahta Ghafarianghadim and Garth Heutel

No 35367, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Many effects of pollution exposure on health and education outcomes of children have been identified, but little is known about education effects on preschool-aged children. We estimate the effect of particulate matter air pollution on preschool attendance using restricted administrative data from the state of Georgia. We use thermal inversions, weather phenomena that trap pollutants, as an instrumental variable for pollution. A one-unit increase in the county-week average ambient particulate pollution level decreases attendance by around 2 percentage points. Effects seem to be larger for racial minorities and for children with working parents.

JEL-codes: I25 J13 Q50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-06
Note: EEE
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