SOEP Brown Bag Seminar

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat events. Understanding the impact of heat exposure is crucial due to its wide-ranging economic and social consequences, including increased energy demand, healthcare costs, reduced labor productivity, and exacerbation of social inequities in urban areas. In this context, the project's objective is to investigate the impact of heat exposure on the subjective well-being of urban residents. The empirical analyses cover the time period 2000 to 2022. We match daily weather data sourced from the German Weather Service (DWD) with individual-level survey data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). By utilizing the location and the interview date of the respondents, we can assign heat exposure at a small regional level. As a first step, we examine the relationship with absolute versus relative temperature increase, sustained heat versus fluctuating temperatures, and heat in combination with other conditions (e.g. humidity, air pollution). In a later stage, we aim to evaluate measures to mitigate the effects of heat exposure, such as green spaces or air conditioning.