Effects of Early Childhood Climate on Cognitive Development and Home Environment

Arbeitspapier

Climate change poses a significant threat to the development of young children, but its impacts are not well known because of data and methodological limitations. Using a unique panel study in disadvantaged rural communities, we find that exposures to low temperatures undermine subsequent cognitive development before age 5, and reduce caregiver-child interactions and material investments. Results do not support income, health and temporary disruption in cognitive performance as potential channels. By undermining children's home environment, climate change may widen socioeconomic inequalities across households by their capacity to adapt, which is severely limited among disadvantaged households.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 16017

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health and Inequality ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics
• Subject: early childhood ; cognitive skills ; home environment ; temperature ; climate change ; China

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Wu, Wenjie ; Yang, Zhe ; Kim, Jun Hyung ; Yue, Ai
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2023

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/272644
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET