Heat and Learning

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

No 24639, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We demonstrate that heat inhibits learning and that school air-conditioning may mitigate 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 temperature has little impact, suggesting heat directly disrupts learning time. New nationwide, school-level measures of air-conditioning penetration suggest patterns consistent with such infrastructure largely offsetting heat’s effects. Without air-conditioning, a 1°F hotter school year reduces that year’s learning by one percent. Hot school days disproportionately impact minority students, accounting for roughly five percent of the racial achievement gap.

JEL-codes: I20 J24 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Published as R. Jisung Park & Joshua Goodman & Michael Hurwitz & Jonathan Smith, 2020. "Heat and Learning," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 12(2), pages 306-339, May.

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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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