Ambient temperature and sexual activity: Evidence from time use surveys

Arbeitspapier

Previous research has found that unusually hot temperature in a given month reduces birth rates 8-10 months later. We examine one of the potential mechanisms behind this relationship. Using three waves of the Hungarian Time Use Survey we analyze the relationship between ambient temperature and sexual activity. We show that on a cold day sexual activity is significantly lower, but hot temperatures do not have an effect. Performing placebo tests using temperature data one year ahead or several years before we provide evidence that supports the causal interpretation of our results. Studying the dynamics of this relationship, we could not rule out the possibility that after the immediate decline, sexual activity revives over the next few days resulting in a zero total effect.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-615-5457-08-1
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IEHAS Discussion Papers ; No. MT-DP - 2017/29

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Time Allocation and Labor Supply ; Climate; Natural Disasters and Their Management; Global Warming
• Subject: weather ; temperature ; sexual activity ; time use

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Hajdu, Tamás ; Hajdu, Gábor
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Economics
• (where): Budapest
• (when): 2017

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/190490
• Last update: 11.03.2025, 1:00 PM CET