Climate Change, Mortality, and Adaptation: Evidence from Annual Fluctuations in Weather in the US

Olivier Deschenes and Michael Greenstone

American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2011, vol. 3, issue 4, 152-85

Abstract: Using random year-to-year variation in temperature, we document the relationship between daily temperatures and annual mortality rates and daily temperatures and annual residential energy consumption. Both relationships exhibit nonlinearities, with significant increases at the extremes of the temperature distribution. The application of these results to "business as usual" climate predictions indicates that by the end of the century climate change will lead to increases of 3 percent in the age-adjusted mortality rate and 11 percent in annual residential energy consumption. These estimates likely overstate the long-run costs, because climate change will unfold gradually allowing individuals to engage in a wider set of adaptations. (JEL I12, Q41, Q54)

JEL-codes: I12 Q41 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
Note: DOI: 10.1257/app.3.4.152
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (445)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Climate Change, Mortality, and Adaptation: Evidence from Annual Fluctuations in Weather in the US (2007)
Working Paper: Climate Change, Mortality, and Adaptation: Evidence from Annual Fluctuations in Weather in the US (2007)
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