Air Pollution and Adult Cognition: Evidence from Brain Training

Arbeitspapier

We exploit novel data from brain-training games to examine the impacts of air pollution on a comprehensive set of cognitive skills of 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 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 workforce productivity.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 14353

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling ; Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity ; Health and Inequality ; Education and Inequality
• Subject: air pollution ; particulate matter ; cognition ; cognitive skills

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): La Nauze, Andrea ; Severnini, Edson R.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2021

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/236384
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET