Flexible Damage Functions

Author

James Rising, Sebastian Cadavid Sanchez, Climate Impact Lab

Published

September 14, 2026

0.1 Agriculture_Value: Combined Main Spec

Flexible damage function parameters at the Impact Region level.

Outcome units: monetary. Fraction of regional GDP (DeltaWelfare / (gdppc * pop), where DeltaWelfare = DeltaCS + DeltaPS per paper Eq. K.1); negative = welfare loss

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

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 (\(\gamma\)) 0.0052
Standard error 8.73e-05
95% CI [0.0051, 0.0054]
R-squared 0.7310
Observations 23,699,801
Regions 24,326
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: 0.005240, 364,890 rows (of 462,194 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 0.001469 0.0004556 0.003634 -0.06604 0.07081 24,326
beta -0.0006218 -0.0003956 0.0006275 -0.01256 0 24,326
rho 0.3115 0.3377 0.3193 -0.4969 0.9023 24,305
zeta 0.0008956 0.0003867 0.00176 0 0.08436 24,326
eta 0.001731 0.0007646 0.004467 0 0.2196 24,326
rsqr1 0.4754 0.5255 0.2736 0 0.9341 24,326
rsqr2 0.5665 0.5947 0.1158 0 0.8421 24,326

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) 802 3.3%
T > 20°C (beyond graph) 0 0.0%
T < 0°C (negative crossing) 803 3.3%
Valid crossings (0-20°C) 22721 93.4%
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)
0.0000 0.5332 0.5947 0.6558 0.8421

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 0.5488
Sum(η²) 0.5582
Sum(D²) at T=3.0°C 1.2371
N regions 24,326

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 R²
MNE.Re161d9bcb0e82613 0.00243 -0.00174 8.07e-4 0.934
MNE.R58bcdb50ee93c756 0.00243 -0.00174 8.06e-4 0.934
NCL.Rd535c1d6e85b1f65 0.0013 -6.34e-4 2.47e-4 0.93
GHA.2.R5979862fe794ad3b 0.00141 -3.46e-4 0.00522 0.00219
GHA.10.Rc693920d0b3400df 0.00141 -3.46e-4 0.00522 0.00219
GHA.7.R7cc33b3feb7f75d0 0.00141 -3.46e-4 0.00522 0.00219
Figure 6: Fitted polynomial with raw data for worst-fitting regions

9 Regional Parameter Maps

Maps of key parameters at the impact region 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: 292,536 rows

Correlation: 0.2831 | RMSE: 0.005609 | Sign agreement: 52.0%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc -0.00302 -0.136 -0.133
ERI.3.13 -6.65e-4 0.0948 0.0955
ERI.2.8 -6.65e-4 0.0948 0.0955
ERI.6.R3664bd623287c513 -6.65e-4 0.0948 0.0955
ERI.5.R118931154c4060bc -6.65e-4 0.0948 0.0955

Correlation: 0.2249 | RMSE: 0.005667 | Sign agreement: 51.8%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc -0.00261 -0.135 -0.133
ERI.2.8 -6.00e-4 0.0948 0.0954
ERI.3.13 -6.00e-4 0.0948 0.0954
ERI.6.R3664bd623287c513 -6.00e-4 0.0948 0.0954
ERI.5.R118931154c4060bc -6.00e-4 0.0948 0.0954

Correlation: -0.2160 | RMSE: 0.007406 | Sign agreement: 51.5%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
ERI.3.13 -0.0384 0.094 0.132
ERI.5.R9095eea5ff08e556 -0.0384 0.094 0.132
ERI.1.R823257e41121a1dc -0.0384 0.094 0.132
ERI.2.R63789c32ba29a018 -0.0384 0.094 0.132
ERI.2.Rac763a1b0e4a15c4 -0.0384 0.094 0.132

Correlation: -0.1644 | RMSE: 0.009152 | Sign agreement: 51.9%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc -0.00296 -0.135 -0.132
ERI.5.R118931154c4060bc -0.0139 0.0941 0.108
ERI.3.13 -0.0139 0.0941 0.108
ERI.2.8 -0.0139 0.0941 0.108
ERI.6.R3664bd623287c513 -0.0139 0.0941 0.108

Correlation: -0.1758 | RMSE: 0.005975 | Sign agreement: 57.0%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
CA- 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc 0.193 -0.135 -0.328
VCT.R93f2c04d2f53734b 0.0835 -0.0459 -0.129
TGO.3.R438e52554d00ab87 -0.00649 -0.0611 -0.0546
TGO.2.R975c312cec15550c -0.00649 -0.0611 -0.0546
TGO.3.10 -0.00649 -0.0611 -0.0546

Correlation: -0.2791 | RMSE: 0.012585 | Sign agreement: 56.3%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
CA- 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc 0.329 -0.135 -0.464
VCT.R93f2c04d2f53734b 0.243 -0.0457 -0.289
URY.18.R4aa93111ad97ba77 0.141 -0.017 -0.158
URY.R1ab758674653eea9 0.141 -0.017 -0.158
URY.6.67 0.141 -0.017 -0.158

Correlation: 0.6126 | RMSE: 0.007002 | Sign agreement: 81.0%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.19°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc -0.0141 -0.293 -0.279
TGO.3.R438e52554d00ab87 -0.00338 -0.133 -0.13
TGO.3.R00e2431dd5a6481a -0.00338 -0.133 -0.13
TGO.3.10 -0.00338 -0.133 -0.13
TGO.4.R7ce56bde62151e04 -0.00338 -0.133 -0.13

Correlation: 0.6010 | RMSE: 0.007217 | Sign agreement: 81.2%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.19°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc -0.0148 -0.292 -0.278
TGO.3.10 -0.0184 -0.132 -0.114
TGO.3.R438e52554d00ab87 -0.0184 -0.132 -0.114
TGO.5.21 -0.0184 -0.132 -0.114
TGO.3.R00e2431dd5a6481a -0.0184 -0.132 -0.114

Correlation: 0.3679 | RMSE: 0.009546 | Sign agreement: 81.8%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.19°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc -0.0155 -0.292 -0.276
TGO.3.R438e52554d00ab87 -0.0157 -0.132 -0.117
TGO.5.21 -0.0157 -0.132 -0.117
TGO.4.R7ce56bde62151e04 -0.0157 -0.132 -0.117
TGO.4.R2525540aae62638f -0.0157 -0.132 -0.117

Correlation: 0.1894 | RMSE: 0.012321 | Sign agreement: 82.0%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.19°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
TZA.17.86.1759 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc -0.0168 -0.291 -0.275
ERI.5.R118931154c4060bc -0.0266 0.0798 0.106
ERI.6.R3664bd623287c513 -0.0266 0.0798 0.106
ERI.6.50 -0.0266 0.0798 0.106
ERI.5.Rbeb1dd747c42a145 -0.0266 0.0798 0.106

Correlation: 0.4934 | RMSE: 0.007508 | Sign agreement: 89.3%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.19°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
CA- 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc 0.179 -0.292 -0.472
SLB.5 -0.00743 -0.0906 -0.0832
SLB.6 -0.00743 -0.0906 -0.0832
SLB.3 -0.00743 -0.0906 -0.0832
SLB.8 -0.00743 -0.0906 -0.0832

Correlation: 0.0250 | RMSE: 0.014310 | Sign agreement: 88.9%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.19°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ARM.7 0 0 0
CA- 0 0 0
PER.7.67.677 0 0 0
PER.8.71.705 0 0 0
TZA.13.59.1169 0 0 0
LIE.R6b55dda5940e90cc 0.316 -0.292 -0.607
VCT.R93f2c04d2f53734b 0.236 -0.0986 -0.335
URY.11.119 0.133 -0.0366 -0.169
URY.18.R4aa93111ad97ba77 0.133 -0.0366 -0.169
URY.6.Rdad2b0fc914f4e5f 0.133 -0.0366 -0.169

10.1 Scenario Summary

Table 7: Fit statistics across all 12 scenarios
RCP SSP Model N Corr RMSE Sign%
rcp45 SSP2 high 24,207 0.2831 0.005609 52.0%
rcp45 SSP2 low 24,195 0.2249 0.005667 51.8%
rcp45 SSP3 high 24,219 -0.216 0.007406 51.5%
rcp45 SSP3 low 24,108 -0.1644 0.009152 51.9%
rcp45 SSP4 high 21,424 -0.1758 0.005975 57.0%
rcp45 SSP4 low 21,744 -0.2791 0.012585 56.3%
rcp85 SSP2 high 23,756 0.6126 0.007002 81.0%
rcp85 SSP2 low 24,128 0.601 0.007217 81.2%
rcp85 SSP3 high 24,074 0.3679 0.009546 81.8%
rcp85 SSP3 low 23,430 0.1894 0.012321 82.0%
rcp85 SSP4 high 21,149 0.4934 0.007508 89.3%
rcp85 SSP4 low 21,324 0.025 0.01431 88.9%

11 Data Reference

11.1 File Locations

Item Path
Regional CSV /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture_value__combined_main_spec__regional_parameters.csv
Global JSON /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture_value__combined_main_spec__global_results.json
Metadata JSON /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture_value__combined_main_spec__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