Geographic Determinants of Infant Health: The Impact of Sports Facility Construction Projects

Brad Humphreys and Jane Ruseski
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Jane Ruseski: West Virginia University

No 19-06, Working Papers from Department of Economics, West Virginia University

Abstract: A large body of research examines determinants of infant health outcomes but little examines geographic variation generated by exogenous economic shocks. Linking birth data from the CDC Natality files to counties building new facilities from 1995-2002, we find that sports facility construction projects generate local negative externalities. Infants born during facility construction periods have lower birth weights than infants born in comparable counties where no new facility opened. Maternal prenatal health visits also fall in the post-facility-opening period. Mechanisms for this impact include local airborne particulate matter and reduced provision of government services affecting prenatal health.

Keywords: birth weight; sports subsidy; opportunity cost; exact matching estimation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 L83 Z28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2019-10-10
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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