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Temperature Variability and Natural Disasters

Author

Listed:
  • Mohanty, Aatishya

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Powdthavee, Nattavudh

    (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore & IZA Institute, Bonn)

  • Tang, CK

    (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)

  • Oswald, Adrew J.

    (University of Warwick, IZA Institute, Bonn & CAGE Research Centre)

Abstract
This paper studies natural disasters and the psychological costs of climate change. It presents what we believe to be the first evidence that higher temperature variability and not a higher level of temperature is what predicts natural disasters. This conclusion holds whether or not we control for the (incorrectly signed) impact of temperature. The analysis draws upon longdifferences regression equations using GDIS data from 1960-2018 for 176 countries and the contiguous states of the USA. Results are checked on FEMA data. Wellbeing impact losses are calculated. To our knowledge, the paper’s results are unknown to natural and social scientists.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohanty, Aatishya & Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Tang, CK & Oswald, Adrew J., 2024. "Temperature Variability and Natural Disasters," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1519, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:1519
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    File URL: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/workingpapers/2024/twerp_1519-_oswald.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Global warming ; temperature standard deviation ; human wellbeing ; happiness ; disasters ; BRFSS ; WVS JEL Codes: Q54 ; I31;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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