Upside-Down Down-Under: Cold Temperatures Reduce Learning in Australia

19 Pages Posted: 27 Mar 2021 Last revised: 6 May 2025

See all articles by David W. Johnston

David W. Johnston

Monash University - Centre for Health Economics

Rachel Knott

Monash University

Silvia Mendolia

University of Wollongong

Peter Siminski

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC)

Abstract

Understanding how variation in weather and climate conditions impact productivity, performance and learning is of crucial economic importance. Recently, studies have established that high temperatures negatively impact cognition and educational outcomes in several countries around the world. We add to this literature by analysing test scores from a national assessment of Australian children aged between 8 and 15 years. Using comparable methods to previous studies, we find that high temperatures in the year prior to the test do not worsen performance. In fact, we find the opposite: additional cold days significantly reduces test scores. Moreover, the effect appears cumulative, with cold school days 1-2 years prior also having a negative effect. This seemingly contradictory finding is consistent with a literature which finds that people living in warm regions tend to inadequately protect themselves from cold temperatures, meaning they are susceptible to cold weather shocks. More generally, we demonstrate that effects of weather conditions are likely to be context specific.

Keywords: Australia, climate, learning

JEL Classification: I20, J24, J54

Suggested Citation

Johnston, David W. and Knott, Rachel and Mendolia, Silvia and Siminski, Peter, Upside-Down Down-Under: Cold Temperatures Reduce Learning in Australia. IZA Discussion Paper No. 14214, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3813641

David W. Johnston (Contact Author)

Monash University - Centre for Health Economics ( email )

Rachel Knott

Monash University

23 Innovation Walk
Wellington Road
Clayton, 3800
Australia

Silvia Mendolia

University of Wollongong ( email )

Northfields Avenue
Wollongong, 2522
Australia

Peter Siminski

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) ( email )

Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia
+61 2 9385 7827 (Phone)

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