The long-term human capital and health impacts of a pollution reduction programme

TL;DR

This study examines the long-term health and human capital effects of a 1950s UK pollution reduction policy, finding improvements in birth weight and adult height but no effects on education or intelligence.

Contribution

It provides new evidence on the long-term impacts of pollution control policies using historical data and precise geographic and timing information.

Findings

Increased birth weights due to the policy

Higher adult heights among exposed individuals

No significant impact on education or intelligence

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of the staggered roll-out of a pollution reduction programme introduced in the UK in the 1950s. The policy allowed local authorities to introduce so-called Smoke Control Areas (SCAs) which banned smoke emissions. We start by digitizing historical pollution data to show that the policy led to an immediate reduction in black smoke concentrations. We then merge data on the exact location, boundary and month of introduction of SCAs to individual-level outcomes in older age using individuals' year-month and location of birth. We show that exposure to the programme increased individuals' birth weights as well as height in adulthood. We find no impact on their years of education or fluid intelligence.