Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/216814 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
Kiel Working Paper No. 2155
Publisher: 
Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Kiel
Abstract: 
In this paper, we exploit exogenous variation in navigability of the Rhine river to analyze the impact of weather-related supply shocks on economic activity in Germany. Our analysis shows that low water levels lead to transportation disruptions that cause a significant and economically meaningful decrease of economic activity. In a month with 30 days of low water, industrial production in Germany declines by about 1 percent, ceteris paribus. Our analysis highlights the importance of extreme weather events for business cycle analysis and contributes to gauging the costs of extreme weather events in advanced economies. Furthermore, we provide a specific example for an idiosyncratic supply shock to a small sector that amplifies to an economically meaningful effect at the macroeconomic level.
Subjects: 
Climate
extreme weather events
low water
supply shocks
business cycle effects
JEL: 
E32
Q54
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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