Aizer Anna, Currie Janet, Simon Peter, Vivier Patrick
Department of Economics, Brown University, 64 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02912, and NBER.
Department of Economics, Princeton University, 316 Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, and NBER.
Am Econ J Appl Econ. 2018 Jan;10(1):307-341. doi: 10.1257/app.20160404.
We construct a unique individual-level dataset linking preschool blood lead levels with third grade test scores for Rhode Island children born 1997-2005. Using two identification strategies, we show for the first time that reductions of lead from even historically low levels have significant positive effects. A one-unit decrease in average blood lead levels reduces the probability of being substantially below proficient in reading (math) by 0.96 (0.79) percentage points on a baseline of 12 (16) percent. Since disadvantaged children have greater exposure to lead, lead poisoning may be one of the causes of continuing disparities in test scores.
我们构建了一个独特的个体层面数据集，将1997年至2005年出生的罗德岛儿童的学前血铅水平与三年级考试成绩联系起来。通过两种识别策略，我们首次表明，即使从历史较低水平降低铅含量也会产生显著的积极影响。平均血铅水平每降低一个单位，在阅读（数学）成绩大幅低于熟练水平的概率在12%（16%）的基线水平上降低0.96（0.79）个百分点。由于弱势儿童接触铅的机会更多，铅中毒可能是考试成绩持续存在差距的原因之一。
