The Effect of Oil Spills on Infant Mortality: Evidence from Nigeria

42 Pages Posted: 28 Sep 2017

See all articles by Anna Bruederle

Anna Bruederle

University of St. Gallen

Roland Hodler

University of St. Gallen; University of Oxford; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Date Written: September 14, 2017

Abstract

Oil spills can lead to irreversible environmental degradation and pose hazards to human health. We are the first to study the causal effects of onshore oil spills on neonatal and infant mortality rates. We use spatial data from the Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor and the Demographic and Health Surveys, and rely on the comparison of siblings conceived before and after nearby oil spills. We find that nearby oil spills double the neonatal mortality rate. These effects are fairly uniform across locations and socio-economic backgrounds. We also provide some evidence for negative health effects of nearby oil spills on surviving children.

Keywords: oil spills, Nigeria, infant mortality, child health

JEL Classification: I100, I180, J130, Q530

Suggested Citation

Bruederle, Anna and Hodler, Roland, The Effect of Oil Spills on Infant Mortality: Evidence from Nigeria (September 14, 2017). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 6653, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3043605 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3043605

Anna Bruederle

University of St. Gallen ( email )

Bodanstrasse 6
St Gallen, 9000
Switzerland

Roland Hodler (Contact Author)

University of St. Gallen ( email )

Varnbuelstr. 14
Saint Gallen, St. Gallen CH-9000
Switzerland

University of Oxford ( email )

Mansfield Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute) ( email )

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

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