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Inexpensive Heating Reduces Winter Mortality

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  • Jayachandran, Seema
  • Chirakijja, Janjala
  • Ong, Pinchuan

Abstract

This paper examines how the price of home heating affects mortality in the US. Exposure to cold is one reason that mortality peaks in winter, and a higher heating price increases exposure to cold by reducing heating use. It also raises energy bills, which could affect health by decreasing other health-promoting spending. Our empirical approach combines spatial variation in the energy source used for home heating and temporal variation in the national prices of natural gas versus electricity. We find that a lower heating price reduces winter mortality, driven mostly by cardiovascular and respiratory causes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jayachandran, Seema & Chirakijja, Janjala & Ong, Pinchuan, 2019. "Inexpensive Heating Reduces Winter Mortality," CEPR Discussion Papers 13603, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:13603
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    Cited by:

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    2. Risto Conte Keivabu, 2022. "Extreme Temperature and Mortality by Educational Attainment in Spain, 2012–2018," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 38(5), pages 1145-1182, December.
    3. Xi Chen & Chih Ming Tan & Xiaobo Zhang & Xin Zhang, 2020. "The effects of prenatal exposure to temperature extremes on birth outcomes: the case of China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(4), pages 1263-1302, October.
    4. Neidell, Matthew & Uchida, Shinsuke & Veronesi, Marcella, 2021. "The unintended effects from halting nuclear power production: Evidence from Fukushima Daiichi accident," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Shulin Wang & Yongtao Li & Mahfuzul Haque, 2019. "Evidence on the Impact of Winter Heating Policy on Air Pollution and Its Dynamic Changes in North China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, May.
    6. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell, 2021. "Energy poverty and health: Panel data evidence from Australia," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    7. Rodney P Jones, 2021. "Excess Winter Mortality (EWM) as a Dynamic Forensic Tool: Where, When, Which Conditions, Gender, Ethnicity and Age," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-22, February.
    8. Neidell, Matthew & Uchida, Shinsuke & Veronesi, Marcella, 2019. "Be Cautious with the Precautionary Principle: Evidence from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident," IZA Discussion Papers 12687, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Chen, Xi & Tan, Chih Ming & Zhang, Xiaobo & Zhang, Xin, 2020. "The Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Temperature Extremes on Birth Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 12917, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Christensen, Peter & Francisco, Paul & Myers, Erica & Shao, Hansen & Souza, Mateus, 2024. "Energy efficiency can deliver for climate policy: Evidence from machine learning-based targeting," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    11. Munyanyi, Musharavati Ephraim & Mintah, Kwabena & Baako, Kingsley Tetteh, 2021. "Energy-related deprivation and housing tenure transitions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    12. Dorman,Peter, 2022. "Alligators in the Arctic and How to Avoid Them," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781316516270, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Weather-related mortality; Winter mortality; Energy prices; Energy poverty; Fuel poverty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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