How was hot weather linked to impatience and decision-making in Indonesia?

Details

Researchers used Indonesian data to estimate how temperature exposure related to impatience, risk-related choices and violations of rational-choice standards. These standards concern how people make choices, rather than whether every everyday judgment is sensible.

Hot weather was linked to temporary increases in impatience and choices that violated those standards, but the researchers found no effect on risk-related decisions. The pattern was mainly linked to nighttime rather than daytime temperatures. It was strongest among economically disadvantaged households and in areas where air-conditioning was less common.

The researchers also found suggestive evidence that poorer sleep could help explain the pattern by affecting thinking the following day, particularly math skills. The abstract describes these skills as critical for rational choices that best serve a person's preferences. However, the sleep pathway was not established. The abstract does not specify the study design or effect sizes, limiting how confidently these findings can be interpreted as cause and effect.