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Clean Air and Cognitive Productivity: Effect and Adaptation

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  • Nikolai Cook
  • Anthony Heyes
  • Nicholas Rivers

Abstract

We observe 1.8 million university course grades for 88,959 adults who learn and complete examinations in a much less polluted environment than previously studied. We use a within-student identification strategy and find robust evidence of a negative and causal effect of exam-day outdoor air pollution on course performance. The effect of pollution persists beyond the same-day effect. Female students are more sensitive than males, and effects are greatest when students are engaged in unfamiliar tasks. We explore two margins of adaptation, one infrastructural, one behavioral. Working in a new building, and particularly if it is high quality (LEED Gold), provides significant mitigation. Relocating to a floor above ground level also offers partial protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolai Cook & Anthony Heyes & Nicholas Rivers, 2023. "Clean Air and Cognitive Productivity: Effect and Adaptation," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 10(5), pages 1265-1308.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jaerec:doi:10.1086/724951
    DOI: 10.1086/724951
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    Cited by:

    1. Heyes, Anthony & Saberian, Soodeh, 2024. "Pollution and learning: Causal evidence from Obama’s Iran sanctions," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    2. Kishore, Siddharth & Nemati, Mehdi & Dinar, Ariel & Struthers, Cory & MacKenzie, Scott A. & Shugart, Matthew S., 2024. "The Impact of Dust Exposure on Farmland Market: Evidence from the California’s Central Valley," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 343546, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Zhang, Xin & Wang, Yixuan & Hu, Xingyi & Chen, Xi, 2024. "Fetal Pollution Exposure, Cognitive Ability, and Gender-Specific Parental Investment," IZA Discussion Papers 17288, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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