Mortality, Temperature, and Public Health Provision: Evidence from Mexico

We examine the impact of temperature on mortality in Mexico using daily data over period 1998–2017 and find that 3.8 percent deaths are caused by suboptimal (26,000 every year). However, 92 weather-related induced cold (<12°C) or mildly ( 12–20°C) days only 2 outstandingly hot (>32°C). Furthermore, temperatures twice as likely to kill people bottom half income distribution. Finally, we show causal evidence Seguro Popular, a universal health care policy, has saved at least 1,600 lives per year from weather since 2004. (JEL I12, I13, I14, O13, O15, Q54)