The Welfare Effects of Time Reallocation: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time

Joan Costa-Font, Sarah Flèche and Ricardo Pagan Rodriguez

No 14570, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Daylight Saving Time (DST) is currently implemented by more than seventy countries, yet we do not have a clear knowledge of how it affects individuals' welfare. Using a regression discontinuity design combined with a differences-in-differences approach, we find that the Spring DST causes a significant decline in life satisfaction. By inducing a reallocation of time, the transition into DST deteriorates sleep and increases time stress, which in turn affects physical and emotional health. After performing a simple cost-benefit analysis, we find evidence suggestive that ending DST would exert a positive effect on welfare, namely the wellbeing costs associated with DST exceed its benefits.

Keywords: Daylight Saving Time; wellbeing; health; sleep; time stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 I31 K2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 49 pages
Date: 2021-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-hea, nep-isf and nep-ltv
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published in: Economica , 2024, 91 (362), 547 - 568

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https://docs.iza.org/dp14570.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: The welfare effects of time reallocation: evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2024)
Working Paper: The welfare effects of time reallocation: evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2024)
Working Paper: The welfare effects of time reallocation: evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2024)
Working Paper: The welfare effects of time reallocation: evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2024)
Working Paper: The Welfare Effects of Time Reallocation: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2021)
Working Paper: The Welfare Effects of Time Reallocation: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2021)
Working Paper: The Welfare Effects of Time Reallocation: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2021)
Working Paper: The Welfare Effects of Time Reallocation: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2021)
Working Paper: The Welfare Effects of Time Reallocation: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time (2021)
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