Two studies by Chay and Greenstone (2003a,b) deal with the problem of omitted confounders by focusing on “natural experiments” provided by the implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the recession of the early 1980s.
Both the Clean Air Act and the recession induced sharper reductions in particulates in some counties than in others, and they use this exogenous variation in levels of pollution at the county-year level to identify its effects.
They estimate that a one unit decline in particulates caused by the implementation of the Clean Air Act (recession) led to between five and eight (four and seven) fewer infant deaths per 100,000 live births.
They also find some evidence that the decline in TSPs led to reductions in the incidence of low birth weight.
However, the levels of particulates studied by Chay and Greenstone are much higher than those prevalent today; for example, PM10 levels have fallen by nearly 50% from 1980 to 2000.
Furthermore, only TSPs were measured during the time period they examine, which eliminates their ability to examine other pollutants that are correlated with particulates emissions.
Two studies by Chay and Greenstone (2003a,b) deal with the problem of omitted confounders by focusing on “natural experiments” provided by the implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the recession of the early 1980s.Both the Clean Air Act and the recession induced sharper reductions in particulates in some counties than in others, and they use this exogenous variation in levels of pollution at the county-year level to identify its effects.They estimate that a one unit decline in particulates caused by the implementation of the Clean Air Act (recession) led to between five and eight (four and seven) fewer infant deaths per 100,000 live births. They also find some evidence that the decline in TSPs led to reductions in the incidence of low birth weight. However, the levels of particulates studied by Chay and Greenstone are much higher than those prevalent today; for example, PM10 levels have fallen by nearly 50% from 1980 to 2000. Furthermore, only TSPs were measured during the time period they examine, which eliminates their ability to examine other pollutants that are correlated with particulates emissions.
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