Testing above the limit: Drinking water contamination and test scores

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Marcus, Michelle
• 署名单位: Vanderbilt University; National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105313
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: Public drinking water; Coliform bacteria; Water quality violations; Student test scores

摘要

This paper provides estimates of the contemporaneous effect of drinking water quality violations on students' academic achievement. Using student-level test score data with residential addresses, geographic information on water systems, and drinking water violations from North Carolina, I estimate the within-student impacts of poor water quality on student test scores. Exposure to a bacteria violation during the school year decreases math scores by about 0.038 standard deviations when the public is uninformed. Results suggest that poor water quality may impact retention or comprehension of material throughout the school year.