Traffic Pollution Inhibits Learning: Causal Evidence from Tehran

Abstract

Research points to a negative correlation between a child’s exposure to air pollution and academic outcomes – children who live in dirty parts of a city achieve less at school - but the causal effect underpinning all or part of that association is yet to be established. We provide natural experimental evidence from Tehran, the largest city in Iran, that an increase in traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in the vicinity of a primary school causes a reduction in learning by children at that school. The effects prove substantial and robust to a wide set of challenges.

Authors

Anthony Heyes with Soodeh Saberian.

About the presenter’s visit

Anthony Heyes will be visiting the School of Economics from 9 March 20 to 26 March 20.  While here he will be using room 633 Colin Clark Building.  If you would like to meet with him please contact Ian MacKenzie who will be his host while at The University of Queensland. Ian MacKenzie can be contacted on i.mackenzie @uq.edu.au.