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第27回 社研・森口賞 受賞者
森口賞
Winner |
小谷厚起 (東京大学) / Atsuki Kotani (University of Tokyo)
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論文
Title
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Connecting to Electricity: Technical Change and Regional Development |
講評
Review
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This paper examines the shift from steam engines to electric motors during the Second
Industrial Revolution and its effects on manufacturing and regional development, focusing on
early 20th-century Japan. The author matches historical data on electricity grid expansion and
establishment-level records to evaluate the consequences of electricity access on
manufacturing and employs the potential for hydroelectric power as an instrumental variable to
address endogeneity concerns. The paper finds that electricity access significantly increased
manufacturing activity, with new, smaller entrants driving most of the growth, thanks to reduced
barriers to entry. The paper further shows that municipalities with earlier access to electricity
experienced persistent advantages, including population growth and long-term economic
development. The paper provides new empirical evidence on the long-lasting impacts of early
technological change, contributing to the literature on structural transformation and economic
geography.
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入選
Runner-up |
梅谷隼人 (神戸大学) / Hayato Umetani (Kobe University)
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論文
Title
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Wildfires, Pollution, and Pregnancy Outcomes: Evidence from Lightning Strikes |
講評
Review
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This paper examines the impact of wildfires on air pollution and health outcomes, specifically
focusing on pregnancy. Using lightning strikes as an instrumental variable, the author offers
estimates of the effect of wildfires on air pollution, pregnancy, and maternal health outcomes
using nationwide US data from 2003 to 2018. This study finds that in the affected counties,
wildfires significantly reduce birth weight and gestational age while increasing rates of
gestational diabetes, preterm births, and low birth weight infants. The author proposes wildfire-
emitted air pollutants as the mechanism behind worsened pregnancy and health outcomes,
finding that an increase in wildfire size substantially raises levels of pollutants such as PM2.5
and NO2. The paper’s main contribution is its novel identification strategy, which isolates the
effects of lightning-driven wildfires on the outcomes. This research advances our understanding
of the implications of wildfire pollution on health outcomes and calls for more attention to natural
sources of pollution in policymaking.
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2024年11月18日に授賞式・懇親会がおこなわれました。
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