Climate Change and Economic Growth: Evidence from the Last Half Century

Melissa Dell, Benjamin F. Jones and Benjamin A. Olken

No 14132, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper uses annual variation in temperature and precipitation over the past 50 years to examine the impact of climatic changes on economic activity throughout the world. We find three primary results. First, higher temperatures substantially reduce economic growth in poor countries but have little effect in rich countries. Second, higher temperatures appear to reduce growth rates in poor countries, rather than just the level of output. Third, higher temperatures have wide-ranging effects in poor nations, reducing agricultural output, industrial output, and aggregate investment, and increasing political instability. Analysis of decade or longer climate shifts also shows substantial negative effects on growth in poor countries. Should future impacts of climate change mirror these historical effects, the negative impact on poor countries may be substantial.

JEL-codes: O11 O13 O40 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-dev, nep-ene and nep-env
Date: Written 2008-06
Note: EEE EFG
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