Working Paper: NBER ID: w29152
Authors: Patrick Flynn; Michelle M. Marcus
Abstract: 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.
Keywords: Clean Water Act; birth weight; health economics; environmental policy
JEL Codes: H51; I1; Q51; Q53
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| CWA grants (I28) | upgrades in wastewater treatment technology (Q55) |
| upgrades in wastewater treatment technology (Q55) | reduction in pollution levels in surface water (Q53) |
| reduction in pollution levels in surface water (Q53) | increase in average birth weight (J19) |
| CWA grants (I28) | increase in average birth weight (J19) |