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Learning is inhibited by heat exposure, both internationally and within the United States

Author

Listed:
  • R. Jisung Park

    (University of California)

  • A. Patrick Behrer

    (Stanford University)

  • Joshua Goodman

    (Boston University)

Abstract

Human capital generally, and cognitive skills specifically, play a crucial role in determining economic mobility and macroeconomic growth. While elevated temperatures have been shown to impair short-run cognitive performance, much less is known about whether heat exposure affects the rate of skill formation. We combine standardized achievement data for 58 countries and 12,000 US school districts with detailed weather and academic calendar information to show that the rate of learning decreases with an increase in the number of hot school days. These results provide evidence that climatic differences may contribute to differences in educational achievement both across countries and within countries by socioeconomic status and that may have important implications for the magnitude and functional form of climate damages in coupled human–natural systems.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Jisung Park & A. Patrick Behrer & Joshua Goodman, 2021. "Learning is inhibited by heat exposure, both internationally and within the United States," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 19-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41562-020-00959-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-00959-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Angrist, Noam & Winseck, Kevin & Patrinos, Harry Anthony & Zivin, Joshua Graff, 2023. "Human Capital and Climate Change," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1246, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Kedi Liu & Ranran Wang & Inge Schrijver & Rutger Hoekstra, 2024. "Can we project well-being? Towards integral well-being projections in climate models and beyond," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Picchio, Matteo & van Ours, Jan C., 2024. "The impact of high temperatures on performance in work-related activities," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. Dang, Hai-Anh H & Hallegatte, Stephane & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2023. "Does Global Warming Worsen Poverty and Inequality? An Updated Review," IZA Discussion Papers 16570, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Johnston, David W. & Knott, Rachel & Mendolia, Silvia & Siminski, Peter, 2021. "Upside-Down Down-Under: Cold Temperatures Reduce Learning in Australia," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    6. Pestel, Nico & Oswald, Andrew J., 2021. "Why Do Relatively Few Economists Work on Climate Change? A Survey," IZA Discussion Papers 14885, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Yoo, Jonghyun & Eom, Jiyong & Zhou, Yuyu, 2024. "Thermal comfort and retail sales: A big data analysis of extreme temperature's impact on brick-and-mortar stores," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. Hajdu, Tamás, 2024. "Temperature exposure and sleep duration: Evidence from time use surveys," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Andrey Samarskly & Maria Waldinger, 2024. "EU Development Policy and Climate Change," EconPol Policy Brief 61, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    10. Qi He & Xinde (James) Ji, 2021. "The Labor Productivity Consequences of Exposure to Particulate Matters: Evidence from a Chinese National Panel Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-22, December.
    11. Engzell, Per & Frey, Arun & Verhagen, Mark D., 2020. "Learning Inequality During the Covid-19 Pandemic," SocArXiv ve4z7, Center for Open Science.
    12. Xin Zhang & Xi Chen & Xiaobo Zhang, 2024. "Temperature and Low-Stakes Cognitive Performance," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 11(1), pages 75-96.
    13. Chauvin, Juan Pablo, 2024. "Local Education Spending and Migration: Evidence from a Large Redistribution Program," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13497, Inter-American Development Bank.
    14. Timothy M. Lenton & Chi Xu & Jesse F. Abrams & Ashish Ghadiali & Sina Loriani & Boris Sakschewski & Caroline Zimm & Kristie L. Ebi & Robert R. Dunn & Jens-Christian Svenning & Marten Scheffer, 2023. "Quantifying the human cost of global warming," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(10), pages 1237-1247, October.
    15. Villalobos, Laura & Gomez, Julian D. & Garcia, Jorge H., 2023. "Technology Attenuates the Impact of Heat on Learning. Evidence from Colombia," EfD Discussion Paper 23-6, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    16. Michelle Escobar Carias & David Johnston & Rachel Knott & Rohan Sweeney, 2021. "Heat and Economic Preferences," Papers 2110.05611, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2022.

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