Studies from Carnegie Mellon University Further Understanding of Economics and Statistics (Canary In a Coal Mine: Infant Mortality and Tradeoffs Associated With Mid-20th Century Air Pollution).

A study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University examines the health tradeoffs associated with the historical expansion of coal-fired electricity generation in the United States from 1938 to 1962. The study found that coal-fired plants had significant negative health impacts, but these were partially offset by the benefits of local electricity generation. The health impacts varied depending on initial electricity access and evolved as the stock of generating capacity expanded. The findings emphasize the importance of considering both current and future payoffs when designing environmental regulations. [Extracted from the article]