Work

Traffic Congestion and Infant Health: Evidence from E-ZPass

Year: 2009

Type: report

Abstract: We exploit the introduction of electronic toll collection, (E-ZPass), which greatly reduced both traffic congestion and vehicle emissions near highway toll plazas.We show that the introduction of E-ZPass reduced prematurity and low birth weight among mothers within 2km of a toll plaza by 10.8% and 11.8% respectively relative to mothers 2-10km from a toll plaza.There were no immediate changes in the characteristics of mothers or in housing prices near toll plazas that could explain these changes.The results are robust to many changes in specification and suggest that traffic congestion contributes significantly to poor health among infants.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research

DOI: 10.3386/w15413

Authors: Janet Currie, W. Reed Walker

Institutions: Tulane University, Uppsala University, National Bureau of Economic Research, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Air Quality and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: green

Funders: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Health, State of New Jersey Department of Health

OpenAlex ID: W2162004061

Cites: 47

Cited by: 174

Related to: 10