Economics Seminar - Climate Change and Political Participation: Evidence from India

Event Date: 7 February 2024

Speaker: Professor Irma Clots-Figueras, Professor of Economics, Director of Research, University of Kent

Time: 4-5:15pm

Location: Please contact Rachel Hill (r.hill@strath.ac.uk) for Zoom details

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."

Published: 10 January 2024