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Tropical Storms and Mortality under Climate Change

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  • Pugatch, Todd

    (University at Buffalo, SUNY)

Abstract

Extreme weather induced by climate change can have major consequences for human health. In this study, I quantify the effect of tropical storm frequency and severity on mortality using objective meteorological data and the universe of vital statistics records from a large developing country, Mexico. Using a measure of storm exposure that accounts for both windspeed dispersion and population density along the storm track, I project changes in past storm-related mortality under various scenarios of continued climate change, while holding population and income at current levels. I find that storm-related deaths would have risen under most climate change scenarios considered, with increases of as much as 52% or declines of as much as 10%, depending on the interplay between increasing storm severity and decreased frequency.

Suggested Citation

  • Pugatch, Todd, 2019. "Tropical Storms and Mortality under Climate Change," IZA Discussion Papers 12117, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12117
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    Cited by:

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    2. K. Mukherjee & B. Ouattara, 2021. "Climate and monetary policy: do temperature shocks lead to inflationary pressures?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Cunpu Li & Xuetong Zhang & Jing He, 2023. "Impact of Climate Change on Inflation in 26 Selected Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-22, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    climate change; human health; human mortality; natural disasters; hurricanes; tropical cyclones; tropical storms; developing countries; Latin America; Mexico;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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