The Unintended Impact of Home Appliances to the Countryside policy on Childhood Myopia

This study examines the impact of the Home Appliances to the Countryside policy on childhood myopia in China. Using the 2007 policy rollout as an exogenous shock, we employ a difference-in-differences (DID) approach with data from the 2004–2011 China Rural Development Survey (CRDS) and the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). The results indicate that the policy significantly increased the likelihood of children wearing glasses for myopia. Robustness checks validate these findings, while heterogeneity analyses reveal stronger effects among girls, older children, wealthier regions, and areas where physical education is de-emphasized in exams. Mechanism analyses suggest that the policy led to increased screen-based and near-vision activities, reduced outdoor physical activities and sleep, and higher snack consumption. These findings highlight the potential visual health risks of excessive screen exposure and underscore the importance of interventions aimed at limiting screen time to promote visual health and enhance overall social welfare.