Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/207430 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12605
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Exploiting recent concentration of flight patterns under a new Federal Aviation Administration policy (called NextGen), we examine the impact of exposure to excessive noise levels on birth outcomes. Using birth records that include mothers’ home addresses to measure airport proximity, we find the risk of low birth weight babies increases by 17 percent among mothers living near the airport in the direction of the runway. We utilize exogenous variation in noise exposure triggered by NextGen, which unintentionally increased noise in communities affected by the new flight patterns. Our finding informs policy-makers regarding the trade-off between flight optimization and human health.
Subjects: 
noise
airport runway
low birth weight
NextGen
JEL: 
I10
I18
Q53
Q58
R11
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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