Global warming cools voters down: how climate concerns affect policy preferences

Cotofan, Maria, Kuralbayeva, Karlygash and Matakos, Konstantinos (2024) Global warming cools voters down: how climate concerns affect policy preferences. CEP Discussion Papers (CEPDP1991). London School of Economics and Political Science. Centre for Economic Performance, London, UK.

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Abstract

This study examines how regional temperature variations across OECD countries influence political behavior and support for offset policies. Our analysis reveals that exposure to higher temperatures correlates with political moderation, reduced backing for extreme and populist parties, heightened climate concerns, and increased support for environmentally conscious agendas. These effects are primarily driven by older individuals, who exhibit increased concerns about climate change and the economic costs of climate policies following temperature spikes. Moreover, they express support for policies aimed at mitigating these economic impacts. Conversely, younger individuals show less apprehension about the economic consequences of climate policies and demonstrate readiness to bear them, including through higher energy bills. These findings emphasize the necessity of accounting for age-related perspectives when formulating effective climate policies for the future.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/discussion...
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Centre for Economic Performance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
JEL classification:	D - Microeconomics > D8 - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty > D83 - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H23 - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies H - Public Economics > H3 - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents > H31 - Household Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q58 - Government Policy
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2025 15:30
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2025 15:30
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/126818

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