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The impact of daily weather conditions on life satisfaction: Evidence from cross-sectional and panel data

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  • Barrington-Leigh, Christopher
  • Behzadnejad, Fatemeh

Abstract

Life satisfaction has been widely used in recent years for evaluating the effect of environmental factors on individuals’ well-being. In this study, using two major health surveys in Canada, we show that after controlling for individuals’ socioeconomic characteristics as well as local and seasonal climate, temporal weather variations have an impact on satisfaction with life. This effect is identified in a number of alternative specifications. Women and individuals with poor health condition are more affected by weather conditions. Although being statistically significant, the effect of weather on life satisfaction is small compared with major socioeconomic determinants of well-being. We cannot confirm the results of past studies which find an effect of long term climate variables on life satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Barrington-Leigh, Christopher & Behzadnejad, Fatemeh, 2017. "The impact of daily weather conditions on life satisfaction: Evidence from cross-sectional and panel data," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 145-163.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:59:y:2017:i:c:p:145-163
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2017.01.003
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    Cited by:

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    2. Frijters, Paul & Lalji, Chitwan & Pakrashi, Debayan, 2020. "Daily weather only has small effects on wellbeing in the US," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 747-762.
    3. Vito Telesca & Aime Lay-Ekuakille & Maria Ragosta & Giuseppina Anna Giorgio & Boniface Lumpungu, 2018. "Effects on Public Health of Heat Waves to Improve the Urban Quality of Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Han, Ahram & Ten, Gi Khan & Wang, Shun, 2023. "Gray skies and blue moms: The effect of air pollution on parental life satisfaction," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    5. Jones, Benjamin A., 2022. "Dust storms and violent crime," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    6. C. P. Barrington-Leigh & Katja Lemermeyer, 2023. "A Public, Open, and Independently-Curated Database of Happiness Coefficients," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1505-1531, April.
    7. Samahita, Margaret & Holm, Håkan J., 2023. "No mood effects in the field: The case of car inspections," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Life satisfaction; Affect; Income; Climate; Welfare; Subjective well-being;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics

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