Date of Award
8-10-2006
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Dr. Mary Beth Walker - Chair
Second Advisor
Dr. M. Melinda Pitts
Third Advisor
Dr. Sally Wallace
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Laura O. Taylor
Abstract
Adverse birth outcomes have many causes but there is increasing awareness that air pollution is one of them. This study examines the effects of air pollution on infant health and mortality using data from the State of Georgia. The estimation methods control for potential endogenous variables such as the length of gestation and the demand for prenatal care. Moreover dummy-fixed effects are used to control for unobserved neighborhood characteristics using the place of residence of the mother. In addition, the model uses a comprehensive framework, which considers birth weight, length of gestation, and mortality, thus allowing pre and postnatal assessment of the impact of air pollution on health. The empirical results show moderate evidence of an effect of air pollution on low birth weight and length of gestation and found a more substantive effect on infant mortality.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1061434
Recommended Citation
Sow, Mamadou Laity, "The Effects of Air Pollution on Infant Health: An Empirical Evaluation of Georgia." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2006.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1061434