Flexible Damage Functions

Author

James Rising, Sebastian Cadavid Sanchez, Climate Impact Lab

Published

April 30, 2026

0.1 Agriculture: Soy Country

Flexible damage function parameters at the Country level.

Change in soy yields (log change in yields) under full adaptation

Outcome units: physical — log change in soy yield (population-weighted to country)

\[D_{it} = (\alpha_i T_t + \beta_i T_t^2) \cdot Y_{it}^{\gamma}\]

where \(\gamma\) is the income elasticity (fitted globally), \(\alpha_i\) is the linear coefficient, and \(\beta_i\) is the quadratic coefficient.


1 Global Estimation

1.1 Income Elasticity Estimation

The income elasticity \(\gamma\) is estimated using a fixed-effects regression:

\[y_{it} = \gamma \cdot \log(Y_{it}) + \mu_{g(i,T)} + \nu_t + \varepsilon_{it}\]

where \(\mu_{g(i,T)}\) are region-by-temperature-bin fixed effects and \(\nu_t\) are year fixed effects.

Table 1: Income Elasticity (Gamma) Estimation Results
Statistic Value
Income elasticity (\(\gamma\)) -0.3008
Standard error 1.25e-02
95% CI [-0.3253, -0.2763]
R-squared 0.5843
Observations 2,828,704
Regions 136
Gamma quantiles 19

2 Parameter Distributions

2.1 8-Panel Summary

Row 1: gamma, alpha, beta, rsqr1. Row 2: rho, zeta, eta, rsqr2.

Using median gamma: -0.300758, 136 rows (of 2,584 total)
Figure 1: Distribution of Regional Parameters

2.2 Projection Equation and Parameter Definitions

The estimated parameters are used to project damages via Monte Carlo sampling:

\[D_{it}^k = (\hat{\alpha}_{ik} T_t + \hat{\beta}_{ik} T_t^2) Y_{it}^{\hat{\gamma}_k} + \hat{\theta}_{ik} T_t Y_{it}^{\hat{\gamma}_k} + \hat{\phi}_{it}^k\]

where \(k\) indexes the Monte Carlo draw. The parameters in each row of the output CSV control distinct components of this equation:

  • gamma: income elasticity \(\hat{\gamma}_k\), one of 19 quantile values drawn from \(N(\hat{\gamma}, SE(\hat{\gamma}))\)
  • alpha, beta: linear and quadratic temperature coefficients; \(\hat{\alpha}_{ik}\) and \(\hat{\beta}_{ik}\) are drawn from the joint normal defined by the VCV below
  • sigma11, sigma12, sigma22: variance-covariance matrix of \((\alpha, \beta)\), used for joint uncertainty sampling
  • rho: correlation between regional and global polynomial residuals \(\rho_i\), used to maintain spatial covariance across regions in Monte Carlo draws
  • zeta: temperature-dependent error scale \(\zeta_{ik}\); the run-specific error term \(\hat{\theta}_{ik}\) is drawn from \(N(0, \zeta_{ik})\)
  • eta: residual noise standard deviation \(\eta_{ik}\); the annual noise \(\hat{\phi}_{it}^k\) is drawn from \(N(0, \eta_{ik})\)
  • rsqr1, rsqr2: polynomial fit quality and error model fit, respectively

2.3 Summary Statistics

Table 2: Regional Parameter Summary
Parameter Mean Median Std Min Max N
alpha -4.262 -4.178 3.72 -16.16 4.91 136
beta -0.3668 0 0.6455 -3.435 0 136
rho 0.2674 0.253 0.1247 -0.05256 0.5338 136
zeta 5.087 4.331 2.434 2.095 16.37 136
eta 8.96 7.999 4.182 3.619 27.69 136
rsqr1 0.1888 0.167 0.1198 0.005258 0.4555 136
rsqr2 0.5542 0.5613 0.04574 0.422 0.6426 136

3 Spaghetti Curves

Regional damage function curves showing D(T) = αT + βT² for sampled regions.

Figure 2: Regional Damage Functions

4 Zero Crossings

The zero crossing (extremum) of the parabola occurs at \(T^* = -\alpha / (2\beta)\).

Table 3: Zero Crossing Statistics
Category Count Percentage
β = 0 (no crossing) 71 52.2%
T > 20°C (beyond graph) 1 0.7%
T < 0°C (negative crossing) 52 38.2%
Valid crossings (0-20°C) 12 8.8%
Figure 3: Distribution of Zero Crossing Temperatures

5 Slope Analysis

Maximum slope between 0 and 10°C: \(\frac{dM}{dT} = \alpha + 2\beta T\)

The maximum occurs at either T=0 or T=10 (endpoints of interval).

Figure 4: Distribution of Maximum Slopes (0-10°C)

Convexity analysis omitted (beta constraint active).


6 R-squared Analysis

6.1 Polynomial Fit Quality (rsqr1)

Figure 5: Regional Fit Quality (R-squared)

6.2 Error Model R-squared (rsqr2) Quantiles

Table 4: rsqr2 Quantiles
0% (Min) 25% 50% (Median) 75% 100% (Max)
0.4220 0.5308 0.5613 0.5874 0.6426

7 Modelled Variance

Modelled variance statistic: \(1 - \frac{\sum_i \eta_i^2}{\sum_i D_i^2}\)

Table 5: Modelled Variance Statistics
Statistic Value
Modelled variance 0.7460
Sum(η²) 13278.9641
Sum(D²) at T=3.0°C 52279.0738
N regions 136

8 Best- and Worst-Fitting Regions

The 3 worst- and 3 best-fitting regions by R-squared, with raw simulation data overlaid on the fitted polynomial curve. Red rows = worst fits, green rows = best fits.

Table 6: Best- and worst-fitting regions
Top 3 best fit (R²)   Top 3 worst fit (R²)
Region α β η
IRN -10.1 -1.11 10.4 0.456
BWA -12 -1.84 14.4 0.448
AFG -16.2 -0.00253 11.5 0.448
BLR -0.465 -0.0131 4.71 0.0057
LTU 0.696 -0.03 3.71 0.0105
NLD 1.5 -0.185 4.18 0.0125
Figure 6: Fitted polynomial with raw data for worst-fitting regions

9 Regional Parameter Maps

Maps of key parameters at the country level. Red = negative (damage increases with T), Blue = positive.

9.1 Alpha (Linear Coefficient)

Alpha (\(\alpha\)) represents the linear sensitivity to temperature. Regions with negative alpha experience damage that increases with the first degree of warming.

Figure 7: α (linear coefficient)

9.2 Beta (Quadratic Coefficient)

Beta (\(\beta\)) represents the curvature of the damage function.

The concavity (\(\beta \leq 0\)) constraint is enforced for this sector, meaning optimal temperature exists, damages accelerate beyond it.

Figure 8: β (quadratic coefficient)

9.3 R-squared (Fit Quality)

\(R^2\) measures the polynomial fit quality. Higher values indicate that the quadratic form captures more of the variance in the data.

Figure 9: R² (stage 1 fit quality)

10 F2: Flex vs Raw Comparison

Comparison of flexible damage function predictions against raw simulation means.

For each scenario (RCP × SSP × Model), we compute at the final year:

  • Flex predicted: \((\alpha \cdot T + \beta \cdot T^2) \cdot Y^\gamma\)
  • Raw actual: The outcome variable (y) from the source data

Year 2098: 1,457,280 rows

Correlation: 0.2952 | RMSE: 0.718324 | Sign agreement: 59.6%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
BIH -0.408 -0.408 4.83e-4
GUY -0.465 -0.462 0.00222
SUR -0.37 -0.376 -0.00578
RWA -0.242 -0.224 0.0172
PER -0.245 -0.221 0.0237
VNM 1.17 -0.718 -1.89
KHM 1.33 -0.489 -1.82
ECU 1.1 -0.471 -1.57
ESP -1.8 -0.35 1.45
THA 0.943 -0.475 -1.42

Correlation: 0.2161 | RMSE: 0.760755 | Sign agreement: 58.1%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
SUR -0.392 -0.397 -0.00548
MOZ -0.695 -0.713 -0.0179
LSO -0.286 -0.31 -0.0239
BIH -0.416 -0.386 0.0297
SVN -0.314 -0.281 0.0327
VNM 1.12 -0.761 -1.88
KHM 1.28 -0.555 -1.83
ECU 1.13 -0.564 -1.7
THA 0.958 -0.554 -1.51
PNG 0.894 -0.577 -1.47

Correlation: 0.2457 | RMSE: 0.769064 | Sign agreement: 58.1%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
LSO -0.293 -0.313 -0.0205
USA -0.583 -0.542 0.0407
SUR -0.414 -0.464 -0.0498
MDA -0.51 -0.458 0.0521
SVN -0.325 -0.27 0.055
KHM 1.35 -0.692 -2.04
VNM 1.11 -0.913 -2.02
ECU 1.06 -0.621 -1.69
PNG 0.899 -0.665 -1.56
IDN 0.704 -0.856 -1.56

Correlation: 0.1418 | RMSE: 0.884628 | Sign agreement: 55.9%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
MNG -0.18 -0.185 -0.00453
BIH -0.423 -0.412 0.011
SVN -0.318 -0.296 0.0219
ERI -0.419 -0.446 -0.0274
MNE -0.242 -0.181 0.0616
KHM 1.39 -0.722 -2.11
VNM 1.13 -0.91 -2.04
GIN 0.693 -1.29 -1.99
ECU 1.01 -0.731 -1.74
PNG 0.927 -0.749 -1.68

Correlation: 0.2013 | RMSE: 0.782086 | Sign agreement: 57.4%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
GUY -0.457 -0.453 0.00392
BIH -0.409 -0.404 0.00576
SUR -0.374 -0.384 -0.00957
SWZ -0.487 -0.477 0.0101
PER -0.242 -0.221 0.0205
KHM 1.31 -0.744 -2.06
VNM 1.04 -0.731 -1.77
PNG 0.985 -0.739 -1.72
ECU 1.09 -0.489 -1.58
LAO 0.872 -0.6 -1.47

Correlation: 0.2027 | RMSE: 0.811917 | Sign agreement: 57.4%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
SWZ -0.47 -0.471 -3.65e-4
SVN -0.302 -0.285 0.0173
ERI -0.404 -0.376 0.0286
BIH -0.396 -0.427 -0.031
MNG -0.203 -0.155 0.0472
KHM 1.34 -0.707 -2.05
VNM 1.1 -0.907 -2.01
ECU 1.07 -0.7 -1.77
PNG 0.913 -0.7 -1.61
GIN 0.594 -1.01 -1.6

Correlation: 0.4161 | RMSE: 1.493012 | Sign agreement: 58.1%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
RWA -0.499 -0.482 0.017
USA -1.17 -1.15 0.0171
BOL -1.15 -1.1 0.0497
GEO -1.19 -1.14 0.0588
MWI -0.921 -0.859 0.0619
VNM 1.95 -1.54 -3.49
KHM 2.44 -1.05 -3.49
ISR -4.17 -1.23 2.94
LAO 1.99 -0.838 -2.83
THA 1.81 -1.02 -2.83

Correlation: 0.3293 | RMSE: 1.557627 | Sign agreement: 58.8%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
GEO -1.18 -1.17 0.015
SUR -0.83 -0.853 -0.0228
CHE -0.719 -0.648 0.0702
PER -0.539 -0.622 -0.0832
USA -1.21 -1.1 0.111
KHM 2.31 -1.19 -3.51
VNM 1.81 -1.63 -3.45
LAO 1.8 -1.13 -2.93
THA 1.73 -1.19 -2.92
PNG 1.63 -1.24 -2.87

Correlation: 0.3600 | RMSE: 1.576891 | Sign agreement: 58.1%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
PAK -3.24 -3.24 0.00418
USA -1.16 -1.19 -0.0291
PER -0.56 -0.601 -0.0406
CHE -0.713 -0.663 0.0504
AFG -4.21 -4.11 0.0957
VNM 1.76 -1.96 -3.72
KHM 2.2 -1.49 -3.69
IDN 1.28 -1.84 -3.12
THA 1.68 -1.32 -3
ISR -4.31 -1.37 2.93

Correlation: 0.2020 | RMSE: 1.818134 | Sign agreement: 55.9%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
USA -1.13 -1.11 0.0195
SWZ -1.32 -1.28 0.0389
CHE -0.683 -0.634 0.0492
GEO -1.16 -1.22 -0.0635
SYR -4.55 -4.66 -0.106
GIN 1.31 -2.78 -4.09
KHM 2.32 -1.55 -3.87
VNM 1.86 -1.96 -3.82
CAF 1.55 -1.9 -3.45
LBR 1.3 -2.14 -3.43

Correlation: 0.2485 | RMSE: 1.661837 | Sign agreement: 56.6%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
LSO -0.748 -0.763 -0.0149
BOL -1.21 -1.2 0.0162
SUR -0.889 -0.824 0.0645
GEO -1.21 -1.1 0.111
PER -0.597 -0.476 0.121
KHM 2.33 -1.6 -3.93
VNM 1.83 -1.57 -3.4
PNG 1.64 -1.59 -3.23
TLS 0.24 -2.94 -3.18
LBR 1.38 -1.72 -3.1

Correlation: 0.2652 | RMSE: 1.704935 | Sign agreement: 56.6%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
CHE -0.722 -0.632 0.0894
USA -1.17 -1.08 0.0949
GEO -1.18 -1.29 -0.11
ERI -0.695 -0.807 -0.112
SUR -0.907 -1.03 -0.123
KHM 2.39 -1.52 -3.91
VNM 1.87 -1.95 -3.81
GIN 1.3 -2.16 -3.47
THA 1.77 -1.47 -3.24
LAO 1.74 -1.43 -3.17
Note · countries with no soy data (shown white on every map above; the GCP soy pipeline does not run sims for non-producing countries): ABW, AIA, ALA, AND, ARE, ASM, ATA, ATF, ATG, BES, BHR, BHS, BLM, BMU, BRB, BRN, BVT, CCK, CL-, COK, COM, CPV, CUB, CUW, CXR, CYM, CYP, DJI, DMA, DOM, DZA, ESH, FJI, FLK, FRO, FSM, GBR, GGY, GIB, GLP, GMB, GNB, GNQ, GRD, GRL, GUF, GUM, HMD, HTI, IMN, IOT, IRL, Iraq, ISL, JAM, JEY, JOR, KIR, KNA, KWT, LBY, LCA, LIE, MAF, MCO, MDV, MHL, MKD, MLT, MNP, MRT, MSR, MTQ, MUS, MYT, NCL, NFK, NIU, Norway, NRU, NZL, OMN, PCN, PLW, PRI, PSE, PYF, QAT, REU, SAU, SEN, SGP, SGS, SHN, SJM, SLB, SMX, SP-, SPM, STP, SWE, SYC, TCA, TKL, TON, TTO, TUN, TUV, UMI, VAT, VCT, VGB, VIR, VUT, WLF, WSM, YEM.

10.1 Scenario Summary

Table 7: Fit statistics across all 12 scenarios
RCP SSP Model N Corr RMSE Sign%
rcp45 SSP2 high 136 0.2952 0.718324 59.6%
rcp45 SSP2 low 136 0.2161 0.760755 58.1%
rcp45 SSP3 high 136 0.2457 0.769064 58.1%
rcp45 SSP3 low 136 0.1418 0.884628 55.9%
rcp45 SSP4 high 136 0.2013 0.782086 57.4%
rcp45 SSP4 low 136 0.2027 0.811917 57.4%
rcp85 SSP2 high 136 0.4161 1.49301 58.1%
rcp85 SSP2 low 136 0.3293 1.55763 58.8%
rcp85 SSP3 high 136 0.36 1.57689 58.1%
rcp85 SSP3 low 136 0.202 1.81813 55.9%
rcp85 SSP4 high 136 0.2485 1.66184 56.6%
rcp85 SSP4 low 136 0.2652 1.70494 56.6%

11 Data Reference

11.1 File Locations

Item Path
Regional CSV /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture__soy_country__regional_parameters.csv
Global JSON /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture__soy_country__global_results.json
Metadata JSON /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture__soy_country__metadata.json

11.2 Column Definitions

Column Description
region Region identifier (hierarchical code, first 3 chars = country ISO3)
gamma Income elasticity quantile value
alpha Linear temperature coefficient
beta Quadratic temperature coefficient
sigma11 Var(alpha)
sigma12 Cov(alpha, beta)
sigma22 Var(beta)
rho Correlation with global residual process
zeta Temperature-dependent heteroskedasticity
eta Residual standard deviation
rsqr1 R-squared of polynomial fit
rsqr2 R-squared of error model

Report generated with FlexDamage v1.0.0