The Effect of Absolute Versus Relative Temperature on Health and the Role of Social Care

We investigate the effect of extreme temperatures on mortality and emergency hospital admissions, whether local social care allows to mitigate their adverse effects. merge monthly administrative data discharge from Italian municipalities for period 2001-2015 with daily weather conditions, yearly disaggregated municipal expenditure. compare two different measures temperature shocks, standard measure based absolute levels another deviations mean temperatures. find that former is more effective in capturing effects shocks health outcomes. In particular, extremely hot cold days increase rates admission both cardiovascular respiratory diseases. These are mostly driven by oldest age group partially young children. Then, we report evidence a mitigating expenditure impact rates. A back envelope calculation suggests additional fully compensated benefits arising lower shocks.