Vog: using volcanic eruptions to estimate the impact of air pollution on student test scores

We pair variation stemming from volcanic eruptions with the census of Hawai‘i’s public schools student test scores to estimate the impact of PM_2.5 and SO₂ on student performance. Increased particulate pollution decreases test scores. These results are concentrated among schools with the highest longterm average levels of pollution. The effects of PM_2.5 are larger for the poorest pupils by a factor of at least three. We demonstrate that poor air quality disproportionately impacts the human capital accumulation of economically disadvantaged children.