Heat and Learning

Joshua Goodman (), Michael Hurwitz, Jisung Park and Jonathan Smith

No 7291, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We demonstrate that heat inhibits learning and that school air-conditioning mitigates this effect. Student fixed effects models using 10 million PSAT-retakers show hotter school days in years before the test reduce scores, with extreme heat being particularly damaging. Weekend and summer heat has little impact, suggesting heat directly disrupts learning time. New nationwide measures of school air-conditioning imply such infrastructure largely offsets heats effects and passes simple benefit-cost tests. Without air-conditioning, a 1°F hotter school year reduces that years learning by one percent. Hot school days disproportionately impact minority students, accounting for roughly five percent of the racial achievement gap.

Keywords: heat; climate; learning; air conditioning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Heat and Learning (2020)
Working Paper: Heat and Learning (2018)
Working Paper: Heat and Learning (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7291

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