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  3. American Economic Review
  4. May 2015
  5. Convergence in Adaptation to Climate Change: Evidence from High Temperatures and Mortality, 1900-2004

American Economic Review

ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)

Convergence in Adaptation to Climate Change: Evidence from High Temperatures and Mortality, 1900-2004

  • Alan Barreca
  • Karen Clay
  • Olivier Deschênes
  • Michael Greenstone
  • Joseph S. Shapiro
American Economic Review
vol. 105, no. 5, May 2015
(pp. 247–51)
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Abstract

This paper combines panel data on monthly mortality rates of US states and daily temperature variables for over a century (1900-2004) to explore the regional evolution of the temperature-mortality relationship and documents two key findings. First, the impact of extreme heat on mortality is notably smaller in states that more frequently experience extreme heat. Second, the difference in the heat-mortality relationship between hot and cold states declined over 1900-2004, though it persisted through 2004. Continuing differences in the mortality consequences of hot days suggests that health motivated adaptation to climate change may be slow and costly around the world.

Citation

Barreca, Alan, Karen Clay, Olivier Deschênes, Michael Greenstone, and Joseph S. Shapiro. 2015. "Convergence in Adaptation to Climate Change: Evidence from High Temperatures and Mortality, 1900-2004." American Economic Review 105 (5): 247–51. DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20151028

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • I12 Health Behavior
  • N31 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
  • N32 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
  • N51 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
  • N52 Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
  • Q51 Valuation of Environmental Effects
  • Q54 Climate; Natural Disasters and Their Management; Global Warming