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School bus emissions, student health and academic performance
ARTICLE

, Georgia State University, United States ; , Georgia State University & NBER, United States ; , Georgia State University & IZA, United States

Economics of Education Review Volume 70, Number 1, ISSN 0272-7757 Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

Abstract

Diesel emissions from school buses expose children to high levels of air pollution; retrofitting bus engines can substantially reduce this exposure. Using variation from 2656 retrofits across Georgia, we estimate effects of emissions reductions on district-level health and academic achievement. We demonstrate positive effects on respiratory health, measured by a statewide test of aerobic capacity. Placebo tests on body mass index show no impact. We also find that retrofitting districts experience significant test score gains in English and smaller gains in math. Our results suggest that engine retrofits can have meaningful and cost-effective impacts on health and cognitive functioning.

Citation

Austin, W., Heutel, G. & Kreisman, D. (2019). School bus emissions, student health and academic performance. Economics of Education Review, 70(1), 109-126. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved August 31, 2024 from .

This record was imported from Economics of Education Review on June 3, 2019. Economics of Education Review is a publication of Elsevier.

Full text is availabe on Science Direct: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2019.03.002

Keywords

References

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