The Dynamic Effects of Weather Shocks on Agricultural Production

weather shocks
environmental economics
agriculture
local projections
VAR
HAL
working paper
Cédric
Gauthier
Author

Ewen Gallic

Published

February 12, 2024

With Cédric Crofils and Gauthier Vermandel, we have uploaded our new working paper on HAL : https://hal.science/halshs-04443037

Our article investigates the dynamic effects of weather shocks on monthly agricultural production in Peru, using a Local Projection framework. The findings provide a nuanced understanding of how adverse weather conditions, measured by excess heat or rain, impact agricultural production, with implications for inflation and aggregate production.

Abstract

This paper investigates the dynamic effects of weather shocks on monthly agricultural production in Peru, using a Local Projection framework. An adverse weather shock, measured by an excess of heat or rain, always generates a delayed negative downturn in agricultural production, but its magnitude and duration depend on several factors, such as the type of crop concerned or the timing at which it occurs. On average, a weather shock-a temperature shock-can cause a monthly decline of 5% in agricultural production for up to four consecutive months. The response is time-dependent: shocks occurring during the growing season exhibit a much larger response. At the macroeconomic level, weather shocks are recessionary and entail a decline in inflation, agricultural production, exports, exchange rate and GDP.

A replication ebook is available on my website:

The corresponding R codes are available on my GitHub:

Regional distribution of crop production by administrative region.