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Extreme Temperatures and Time Use in China

Author

Listed:
  • Teevrat Garg

    (School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California, San Diego)

  • Matthew Gibson

    (Williams College)

  • Fanglin Sun

    (Department of Economics, University of California, San Diego)

Abstract

How do people in developing countries respond to extreme temperatures? Using individual-level panel data over two decades and relying on plausibly exogenous variation in weather, we estimate how extreme temperatures affect time use in China. Extreme temperatures reduce time spent working, and this effect is largest for female farmers. Hot days reduce time spent by women on outdoor chores, but we find no such effects for men. Finally, hot days dramatically reduce time spent on childcare, reflecting large effects on home production. Taken together, our results suggest time use is an important margin of response to extreme temperatures.

Suggested Citation

  • Teevrat Garg & Matthew Gibson & Fanglin Sun, 2019. "Extreme Temperatures and Time Use in China," Department of Economics Working Papers 2019-16, Department of Economics, Williams College.
    • Handle: RePEc:wil:wileco:2019-16
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    2. Bertrand, Jérémie & Weill, Laurent, 2023. "Too sunny to borrow: Sunshine and borrower discouragement," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. Andrew Ireland & David Johnston & Rachel Knott, 2024. "Impacts of Extreme Heat on Labor Force Dynamics," Papers 2024-01, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University.
    4. Garg, Teevrat & McCord, Gordon C. & Montfort, Aleister, 2020. "Can Social Protection Reduce Environmental Damages?," IZA Discussion Papers 13247, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Li, Xue & Smyth, Russell & Xin, Guangyi & Yao, Yao, 2023. "Warmer temperatures and energy poverty: Evidence from Chinese households," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    6. Miaomiao Niu & Guohao Li, 2022. "The Impact of Climate Change Risks on Residential Consumption in China: Evidence from ARMAX Modeling and Granger Causality Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    7. Torres-Higuera, Paula, 2024. "Warm Days, Warmer Homes? Effects of Temperature Shocks on Time Allocation," Documentos CEDE 21133, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    8. Wu, Wenjie & Zhe, Yang & Kim, Jun Hyung & Yue, Ai, 2023. "Effects of Early Childhood Climate on Cognitive Development and Home Environment," IZA Discussion Papers 16017, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Song, Yuqi, 2024. "The value of weather forecasts: Evidence from labor responses to accurate versus inaccurate temperature forecasts in China," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    10. Aparajita Dasgupta & Ashokankur Datta, 2023. "Religious Institutions & Gendered Time Use: Evidence from Ramadan Festivities in India," Working Papers 90, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    11. Wei, Xiahai & Li, Jianan & Liu, Hongyou & Wan, Jiangtao, 2023. "Temperature and outdoor productivity: Evidence from professional soccer players," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    12. Yun Qiu & Jinhua Zhao, 2022. "Adaptation and the distributional effects of heat: Evidence from professional archery competitions," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 1149-1177, January.
    13. Tang, Yuwei & He, Zhenyu, 2024. "Extreme heat and firms' robot adoption: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    14. Katharina Drescher & Benedikt Janzen, 2023. "When Weather Wounds Workers: The Impact of Temperature on Workplace Accidents," Working Papers 226, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Time use; extreme weather; gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs

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