Climate Change and Political Participation: Evidence from India
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Series
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Speaker(s)Juan Pablo Rud (University of London, United Kingdom)
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FieldSpatial Economics
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LocationTinbergen Institute Amsterdam, room 1.01
Amsterdam -
Date and time
December 07, 2023
12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
We study the effects of temperature shocks on electoral outcomes in Indian elections. Taking advantage of localized, high-frequency data on temperatures, we find that exposure to extreme temperatures the year before an election increases voter turnout, changes the composition of the candidate pool, and leads to different electoral outcomes (e.g. winning candidates are more likely to have an agricultural background). The effects are driven by reductions in agricultural productivity and are strongest in rural areas. We also show that temperature shocks increase the value voters place on agricultural issues and on policies which mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures, such as irrigation. Joint work with Amrit Amirapu and Irma Clots-Figueras.