EXTREME HEAT REDUCES INDIVIDUAL HAPPINESS

Fanglin Chen (), Xin Zhang () and Zhongfei Chen
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Fanglin Chen: School of Government, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
Xin Zhang: School of Economics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China
Zhongfei Chen: School of Economics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, P. R. China

Climate Change Economics (CCE), 2024, vol. 15, issue 02, 1-25

Abstract: Using individual-level happiness data in Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) and county-level temperature data, this study analyzes the impact of extreme high temperature on happiness. Results show that extreme heat reduces individuals’ happiness. Specifically, each additional day spent experiencing extreme temperatures resulted in a 0.005 unit decrease in happiness. Results remained robust after modifying the model specification and variable measures. Further analysis shows that extreme heat more strongly affects the low-income and nonair-conditioned groups. Results of the mechanism analysis showed that extreme high temperature mainly affects the individual’s happiness by reducing the individual’s income and health. Thus, the effects of extreme heat on happiness are gradually amplified, in turn exacerbating environmental inequality. This study analyzes the negative impact of climate change from the perspective of social welfare and reveals the internal mechanism of environmental inequality, thus providing a reference for policy formulation.

Keywords: Extreme heat; environmental inequality; happiness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 I31 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1142/S2010007823400043

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