Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/314540 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17643
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Using Italian data on the universe of mandatory tests conducted in a low-stakes setting without air conditioning, we investigate the effect of temperature on student performance, with a focus on how manipulation distorts causal estimates of temperature effects on test scores. While high temperatures adversely affect students' performance, we find that score manipulation also increases with temperature within a specific range. Leveraging the random assignment of inspectors to schools as a natural experiment, we estimate the effect of temperature on test scores net of manipulation. We find that achievement declines at lower temperature thresholds when manipulation is accounted for, implying a larger number of affected students than previously estimated. Additionally, individual survey responses collected during the tests indicate that very high temperatures induce shifts in students' emotional states, affecting self-esteem and anxiety levels.
Subjects: 
student performance
temperature
manipulation
cognitive ability
emotional stress
JEL: 
J21
J24
Q54
O15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.