Daylight saving time policies around the world: diversity and impact

Balia, Silvia;Depalo, Domenico;Robone, Silvana

2023-01-01

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Abstract

This chapter describes the regulations on daylight saving time (DST) in Europe and the United States, with an emphasis on their historical evolution, current policies, and possible future changes, namely the abolition of the two-phase time arrangement. The chapter also documents the highly heterogeneous perception of the policy among citizens, which is often supported more by individual beliefs than by scientific evidence. The scientific evidence on the causal impact of DST on various outcomes, such as energy consumption, human health, well-being, risky behaviors, and economic performance, is examined. The variability in results reported in the literature may be attributed to differences in the population of interest, the outcome under consideration, and the identification strategy adopted. The chapter concludes by suggesting possible extensions to the literature.