RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The child health impacts of coal
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0320-10784R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.0320-10784R2
A1 Vyas, Sangita
YR 2023
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2023/08/02/jhr.0320-10784R2.abstract
AB What are the health and human capital consequences of the developing world’s coal power expansion? Using variation in coal plant capacity within place across cohorts in India, a large coal consumer, I find that children born exposed to a median-sized coal plant are 0.1 standard deviations shorter than unexposed children. Supporting air pollution as a channel, effects are larger among children living closer to coal plants. Changes in coal capacity do not predict changes in other local socio-economic factors, demographics, employment, or infrastructure. Effects are similar by socioeconomic status, but richer households live closer to coal plants.