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on Neuroeconomics |
| By: | Eric A. Hanushek; Lavinia Kinne; Frauke Witthoeft; Ludger Woessmann |
| Abstract: | Cross-sectional age-skill profiles suggest that workers' cognitive skills start declining by their thirties if not earlier. If accurate, such age-driven skill losses pose a major threat to the human capital of societies with rapidly aging populations. We estimate actual age-skill profiles from individual changes in skills at different ages. We use the unique German longitudinal component of the Programme of the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC-L) that retested a large representative sample of adults after 3.5 years. Two main results emerge. First, correcting for measurement error, average skills increase into the forties before decreasing slightly in literacy and more strongly in numeracy. Second, skills decline at older ages only for those with below-average skill usage. White-collar and higher-educated workers with above-average usage show increasing skills even beyond their forties. Women have larger skill losses at older age, particularly in numeracy. |
| Date: | 2024–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2410.00790 |
| By: | Mario Lackner; Hendrik Sonnabend |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the impairing effect of heat stress on cognitive abilities in a high-stakes setting. Building on rich play-by-play data from the National Football League (NFL) linked to variations in game-time temperature, we find that players are about 25% more likely to be sanctioned for infractions associated with mental errors in games with temperatures above 85°F (29.4°C) compared to games with lower temperatures. Furthermore, we identify situations with (i) little room to adapt to heat stress and (ii) high work intensities, as well as the players’ physical constitution as channels that can explain the heat-induced decline in mental performance. |
| Keywords: | heat stress, mental performance, football |
| JEL: | Q51 J24 J81 |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jku:econwp:2024-11 |