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VOG: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Impact of Air Pollution on Student Learning Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Timothy J. Halliday

    (University of Hawaii)

  • Rachel Inafuku

    (University of Hawaii)

  • Lester Lusher

    (University of Hawaii)

  • Aureo de Paula

    (University College London)

Abstract
This study pairs variation stemming from volcanic eruptions from Kilauea with the census of Hawai`i's public schools student test scores to estimate the impact of particulates and sulfur dioxide on student performance. We leverage spatial correlations in pollution in conjunction with proximity to Kilauea and wind direction to construct predictions of pollution exposure at each school. We precisely estimate that increased particulate pollution leads to a small but statistically significant drop in average test scores. Then, utilizing Hawai`i's rich diversity across schools in baseline exposure, we estimate sharp nonlinearities - schools with higher baseline levels of pollution experience larger decreases in test scores than schools with less pollution exposure on average. At levels of particulate pollution higher than six micrograms per cubic meter mu g3, we estimate that a one standard deviation increase in PM2.5 leads to a decline in test scores of 1.1 percent of a standard deviation. Lastly, we find that within schools the drop in test scores is concentrated among economically disadvantaged students. The effects of PM2.5 on student test scores are larger by a factor of ten for the poorest pupils. Similarly, the effects of SO2 are larger by a factor of six. We demonstrate that poor air quality disproportionately impacts the human capital accumulation of economically disadvantaged children.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy J. Halliday & Rachel Inafuku & Lester Lusher & Aureo de Paula, 2022. "VOG: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Impact of Air Pollution on Student Learning Outcomes," Working Papers 202203, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hai:wpaper:202203
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    File URL: http://www.economics.hawaii.edu/research/workingpapers/WP_22-03.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Vog; Particulates; Test Scores; Kriging; Environmental Justice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects

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