Saving lives: the 2006 expansion of daylight saving in Indiana

Adam Cook

Journal of Population Economics, 2022, vol. 35, issue 3, No 2, 891 pages

Abstract: Abstract Using data provided by the Indiana State Department of Vital Statistics, this study examines the mortality effects of daylight saving time observance using the April 2006 expansion of daylight saving time in Indiana as a natural experiment. The expansion of daylight saving time to all Indiana counties lowered the average mortality rate in the treatment counties during the months in which daylight saving time was observed. Stratified demographic analyses indicate that daylight saving time reduced mortality among males, females, and whites, but only among those aged 65 years and older. Specific-cause analysis indicates that daylight saving time lowered mortality primarily via reduced cancer mortality. The results of this study suggest a novel solar UVB-vitamin D mechanism could be responsible for the reduction in treatment county mortality following the expansion of daylight saving time in Indiana.

Keywords: Cancer; Daylight saving; Mortality; Natural experiment; Vitamin D (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 I18 J10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-021-00833-6

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