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Temperature and Low-Stakes Cognitive Performance

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  • Xin Zhang
  • Xi Chen
  • Xiaobo Zhang

Abstract

This study offers some of the first evidence in a developing country context that transitory exposure to high temperatures may disrupt low-stakes cognitive activities across a range of age cohorts. By matching eight years of repeated cognitive tests among all the participants in a nationally representative longitudinal survey in China with weather data according to the exact time and geographic location of their assessment, we show that exposure to a temperature above 32°C on the test date, relative to a moderate day within 22°C–24°C, leads to a sizable decline in their math scores by 0.066 standard deviations (equivalent to 0.23 years of education). Further, the effect on the math test scores is more salient for individuals who are older or less educated.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jaerec:doi:10.1086/726007
    DOI: 10.1086/726007
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    Cited by:

    1. Martinez, Jose Maria & Zuluaga, Victor & Buritica, Alexander, 2024. "Sweating bullets: Heat, high-stakes evaluations, and the role of incentives," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 343559, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Zhang, Jingfang & Malikov, Emir & Miao, Ruiqing, 2024. "Distributional effects of the increasing heat incidence on labor productivity," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects

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