Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/236407 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 14376
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We examine the persistence of the impact of early-life exposure to air pollution on children's health from birth to school enrollment using administrative public health insurance records covering one third of all children in Germany. For identification, we exploit air quality improvements caused by the implementation of Low Emission Zones, a policy imposing driving restrictions on high-emission vehicles. Our results indicate that children exposed to cleaner air around birth require less medication for at least five years. The initially latent health response materializes only gradually in lower medication usage, leaving important but subtle health benefits undetected in common measures of infant health.
Subjects: 
policy evaluation
cohort study
air pollution
health
children
Low Emission Zone
JEL: 
I18
Q51
Q53
Q58
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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