Smog in Our Brains: Gender Differences in the Impact of Exposure to Air Pollution on Cognitive Performance in China

43 Pages Posted: 15 Mar 2017

See all articles by Xi Chen

Xi Chen

Yale School of Public Health - Department of Health Policy and Management; Yale University - Yale Institution for Social and Policy Studies

Xiaobo Zhang

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Xin Zhang

Beijing Normal University (BNU) - School of Statistics

Date Written: March 11, 2017

Abstract

While there is a large body of literature on the negative health effects of air pollution, there is much less written about its effects on cognitive performance for the whole population. This paper studies the effects of contemporaneous and cumulative exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance based on a nationally representative survey in China. By merging a longitudinal sample at the individual level with local air-quality data according to the exact dates and counties of interviews, we find that contemporaneous and cumulative exposure to air pollution impedes both verbal and math scores of survey subjects. Interestingly, the negative effect is stronger for men than for women. Specifically, the gender difference is more salient among the old and less educated in both verbal and math tests.

Keywords: CHINA, EAST ASIA, ASIA; gender, pollution, air pollution, cognitive performance, gender difference, human capital

JEL Classification: I24, Q53, Q51, J16

Suggested Citation

Chen, Xi and Zhang, Xiaobo and Zhang, Xin, Smog in Our Brains: Gender Differences in the Impact of Exposure to Air Pollution on Cognitive Performance in China (March 11, 2017). IFPRI Discussion Paper 1619, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2932264

Xi Chen (Contact Author)

Yale School of Public Health - Department of Health Policy and Management ( email )

60 College St
New Haven, CT 06520
United States

Yale University - Yale Institution for Social and Policy Studies ( email )

77 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06520
United States

HOME PAGE: http://isps.yale.edu/team/xi-chen

Xiaobo Zhang

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

2033 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States
202-862-5677 (Phone)
202-467-4439 (Fax)

Xin Zhang

Beijing Normal University (BNU) - School of Statistics ( email )

Beijing, 100875
China

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