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Happiness in the tropics: climate variables and subjective wellbeing

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  • Zapata, Oscar

Abstract

Changes in climatic patterns are expected to have significant effects on health and wellbeing. However, the literature on the effect of climate on subjective wellbeing remains scant and existing studies focus mostly on developed countries or cross-country analyses. This paper aims to identify the relationship between climate conditions on happiness after controlling for individual and social characteristics. Ecuador, a geographically fragmented country with varying climate conditions across municipalities, constitutes an ideal case study to assess the effect of climate variables on happiness. We employ a cross-section analysis to identify the effect of temperature, precipitation and humidity on happiness. The paper shows that climate conditions constitute an important determinant of people's subjective wellbeing. The results also suggest that income and education attenuate the effect of temperature on happiness and that substantial differences are observed depending on whether places are hot/humid or cold/dry.

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  • Zapata, Oscar, 2022. "Happiness in the tropics: climate variables and subjective wellbeing," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(3), pages 250-271, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:endeec:v:27:y:2022:i:3:p:250-271_3
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    Cited by:

    1. Oscar Zapata, 2023. "Weather Disasters, Material Losses and Income Inequality: Evidence from a Tropical, Middle-Income Country," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 231-251, July.
    2. Yi Mei & Lili Xu & Zhixing Li, 2023. "Study on Emotional Perception of Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area in Spring under the Influence of Meteorological Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.

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