Working Paper: NBER ID: w28785
Authors: Andrea La Nauze; Edson R. Severnini
Abstract: We exploit novel data from brain-training games to examine the impacts of air pollution on a comprehensive set of cognitive skills in adults. We find that exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) impairs adult cognitive function, and that these effects are largest for those in prime working age. These results confirm a hypothesized mechanism for the impacts of air pollution on workforce productivity. We also find that the cognitive effects are largest for new tasks and for those with low ability, suggesting that air pollution increases inequality in productivity.
Keywords: air pollution; cognitive skills; brain training; PM2.5; productivity
JEL Codes: I14; I24; J24; Q53
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 (Q53) | cognitive function (D91) |
| PM2.5 > 25 µg/m3 (Q53) | cognitive function (D91) |
| PM2.5 (Q53) | memory (Y60) |
| PM2.5 (Q53) | problem-solving (C78) |
| PM2.5 (Q53) | productivity (O49) |