Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Papers,
Lund University, Department of Economics

No 2025:8: Extreme Temperatures, Health and Retirement

Andrea Albanese (), Olivier Deschenes (), Christina Gathmann () and Adrian Nieto ()
Additional contact information
Andrea Albanese: Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)
Olivier Deschenes: Department of Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara
Christina Gathmann: Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)
Adrian Nieto: Department of Economics, Lund University, Postal: School of Economics and Management, Box 7080, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden

Abstract: This paper provides novel evidence of the impact of temperature fluctuations on retirement behavior and underlying mechanisms, combining 30 years of rich longitudinal survey data with granular daily weather information. Exposure to cold and hot temperatures accelerates transitions into retirement, particularly among individuals unaccustomed to such conditions, and the effects are strongest among vulnerable populations facing greater health challenges and limited access to healthcare. Extreme temperatures deteriorate health through a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases and strokes, reducing individuals' ability to work, while better access to healthcare mitigates the adverse effects of extreme temperatures on retirement behavior.

Keywords: Temperature; Health; Retirement; Healthcare

JEL-codes: I14; I18; J26; Q54

Language: English

47 pages, First version: September 25, 2025. Revised: October 28, 2025.

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