Working Paper: NBER ID: w25641
Authors: Wes Austin; Garth Heutel; Daniel Kreisman
Abstract: Diesel emissions from school buses expose children to high levels of air pollution; retrofitting bus engines can substantially reduce this exposure. Using variation from 2,656 retrofits across Georgia, we estimate effects of emissions reductions on district-level health and academic achievement. We demonstrate positive effects on respiratory health, measured by a statewide test of aerobic capacity. Placebo tests on body mass index show no impact. We also find that retrofitting districts see significant test score gains in English and smaller gains in math. Results suggest that engine retrofits can have meaningful and cost-effective impacts on health and cognitive functioning.
Keywords: School Bus Emissions; Student Health; Academic Performance
JEL Codes: I18; I20; Q53
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| diesel school bus retrofits (L99) | average aerobic capacity of students (D29) |
| diesel school bus retrofits (L99) | English test scores (C12) |
| diesel school bus retrofits (L99) | math test scores (C12) |
| share of students who ride the bus (L92) | average aerobic capacity of students (D29) |
| diesel school bus retrofits (L99) | body mass index (BMI) (I14) |