Data and Code for: The effect of leaded gasoline on elderly mortality: Evidence from regulatory exemptions

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Alex Hollingsworth, Indiana University; Ivan Rudik, Cornell University

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
  code 08/09/2020 11:00:AM
  data_for_analysis 07/29/2020 02:06:PM
  output 07/10/2020 07:47:AM
  raw_data 07/20/2021 10:22:AM
  temp 07/10/2020 07:42:PM
README.Rmd text/plain 30.4 KB 08/09/2020 09:16:AM
README.md text/x-web-markdown 46.5 KB 08/09/2020 09:19:AM
README.pdf application/pdf 99.1 KB 08/09/2020 09:16:AM
nascar_and_lead.Rproj text/plain 205 bytes 06/30/2020 08:17:AM
nascar_and_lead.stpr application/octet-stream 10.9 KB 07/08/2020 05:10:AM

Project Citation: 

Hollingsworth, Alex, and Rudik, Ivan. Data and Code for: The effect of leaded gasoline on elderly mortality: Evidence from regulatory exemptions. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2021. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2021-07-20. https://doi.org/10.3886/E120128V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary Leaded gasoline is still used globally for aviation and automotive racing. Exploiting regulatory exemptions and a novel quasi-experiment, we find that leaded gasoline use in racing increases ambient lead, elevated blood lead rates, and elderly mortality. The mortality estimates indicate that each gram of lead added to gasoline exceeds $1,100 in damages. Our setting allows us to rule out potential confounders, such as correlated pollutants or socioeconomic status. We provide the first causal estimates linking adult mortality to leaded gasoline, highlight the value of banning on-road leaded gasoline, and present policy-relevant cost estimates at the lowest ambient levels to date.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms lead; air pollution; mortality
JEL Classification:  View help for JEL Classification
      I00 Health, Education, and Welfare: General
      I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
      Q53 Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling


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Published Versions

V1 [2021-07-20]

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