Causes and Consequences of Early-life Conditions : Alcohol, Pollution and Parental Leave Policies

Abstract: Essay I: This paper studies the effect of air pollution on infant health in Sweden. Combining register panel data on birth outcomes and family characteristics with pollution data, I estimate the effect of particulate matter (PM10) on several birth outcomes that previously have been shown to be predictive of future outcomes. The results suggest that pollution adversely affects infant health (birth weight and gestational length). Moreover, quantile estimates suggests that the effects are larger in the lower tail of the health distribution. The effect is stronger both among children from low income households and among children born to mothers who smoke. I also find suggestive evidence of non-linearities in the relationship between PM10 and health at birth.