Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/319139 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17870
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Heat's impact on economic growth and aggregate productivity is well-established, but while individual impairments are well-understood as mechanisms, the role of interpersonal dynamics remain unexplored despite the growing prevalence of team-based occupations. In our experiment, programmers were randomly assigned to work individually or in pairs under warm (29°C) or control (24°C) conditions. We found that heat had no effect on individual performance but impaired team performance–not through decreased effort but likely through impaired collaboration. This negative impact was strongest in heterogeneous teams, suggesting heat exacerbates coordination challenges, confirmed by poorer partner evaluations in warm conditions.
Subjects: 
team production
heat stress
labor productivity
JEL: 
J24
Q54
Q56
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
469.54 kB





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