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Title: Pollution and the Intergenerational Transmission of Human Capital: Evidence from the 1970 Clean Air Act. *

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2019

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Abstract: Using a newly constructed dataset linking administrative, survey and decennial Census data, we evaluate the intergenerational effects of early life pollution exposure. Exploiting variation in particulate matter, which sharply dropped following the enactment of the 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments, we find that the children of those affected by additional improvements in air quality are more likely to attend college. Furthermore, we find no differential effect between the adopted and biological children of affected parents, and find suggestive evidence that parents who experienced large declines in pollution exposure are more likely to engage in child enrichment activities. This suggests that the transmission mechanism arises through parental investments and resources, rather than genetic channels.

Url: http://conference.iza.org/conference_files/environ_2019/colmer_j10220.pdf

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Authors: Colmer, Jonathan; Voorheis, John

Publisher: University of Virginia

Data Collections: IPUMS Time Use - ATUS

Topics: Other

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