RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Early-Life Exposure to Tap Water and the Development of Cognitive Skills
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0917-9031R3
DO 10.3368/jhr.58.2.0917-9031R3
A1 Yvonne Jie Chen
A1 Li Li
A1 Yun Xiao
YR 2020
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2020/09/01/jhr.58.2.0917-9031R3.abstract
AB This paper examines the impact of early-life exposure to tap water on children’s cognitive skills in later life. We exploit the variation in the timing of tap water connections across communities imposed by a major drinking water safety program in rural China. Using data extracted from the China Family Panel Studies, we find that one additional year of exposure to tap water in early life increases the cognitive test score at ages 10–15 by 0.132 standard deviations. The event study estimates confirm that the beneficial impacts of tap water exposure are concentrated in early life.