RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Thousand Cuts
JF Journal of Human Resources
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 950
OP 976
DO 10.3368/jhr.0222-12169R2
VO 60
IS 3
A1 Hollingsworth, Alex
A1 Huang, Jiafang Mike
A1 Rudik, Ivan
A1 Sanders, Nicholas J.
YR 2025
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/60/3/950.abstract
AB We study how lead exposure impacts learning in elementary school using a natural experiment where a national automotive racing organization switched from leaded to unleaded fuel. Increased lead exposure harms academic performance, shifting the entire performance distribution, and negatively impacting both younger and older children. For a given total quantity of exposure, the marginal impacts of lead appear greater when spread over more years. The average treated student loses $5,200 of future income in present-value terms. This effect is similar to reducing class size by three students or increasing school spending per pupil by $750.