RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Watershed Moment: The Clean Water Act and Birth Weight
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0622-12369R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.0622-12369R2
A1 Flynn, Patrick
A1 Marcus, Michelle
YR 2023
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2023/03/02/jhr.0622-12369R2.abstract
AB The Clean Water Act (CWA) significantly improved surface water quality, but at a cost exceeding the estimated benefits. We quantify the effect of the CWA on a direct measure of health. Using a difference-in-differences framework, we compare birth weight upstream and downstream from wastewater treatment facilities before and after CWA grant receipt. Pollution only decreased downstream from facilities required to upgrade their treatment technology, and we leverage this additional variation with a triple difference. CWA grants increased average birth weight by 8 grams.