Heat and Learning

• Published in: IDEAS Working Paper Series from RePEc
• Main Authors: Goodman, Joshua S, Hurwitz, Michael, Park, Jisung, Smith, Jonathan
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Academic achievement gaps; Air conditioning

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 li...