Climate change and economic growth
Subtitle: evidence from the last half century
By: Melissa Dell, Benjamin F. Jones, Benjamin A. Olken.
Contributors: Jones, Benjamin F.; Olken, Benjamin A.; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 14132; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) -- working paper no. 14132.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Description: "This paper uses annual variation in temperature and precipitation over the past 50 years to examine the impact of climatic changes on economic activity throughout the world.  We find three primary results.  First, higher temperatures substantially reduce economic growth in poor countries but have little effect in rich countries.  Second, higher temperatures appear to reduce growth rates in poor countries, rather than just the level of output.  Third, higher temperatures have wide-ranging effects in poor nations, reducing agricultural output, industrial output, and aggregate investment, and increasing political instability.  Analysis of decade or longer climate shifts also shows substantial negative effects on growth in poor countries.  Should future impacts of climate change mirror these historical effects, the negative impact on poor countries may be substantial"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 7/18/2008.

Includes bibliographical references.

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Mode of access: World Wide Web.