Flexible Damage Functions

Author

James Rising, Sebastian Cadavid Sanchez, Climate Impact Lab

Published

April 30, 2026

0.1 Agriculture: Wheat Combined Country

Flexible damage function parameters at the Country level.

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

Outcome units: physical — log change in wheat combined 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 (\(\gamma\)) -0.0358
Standard error 8.52e-03
95% CI [-0.0525, -0.0191]
R-squared 0.4354
Observations 2,870,303
Regions 138
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: -0.035821, 138 rows (of 2,622 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 -0.06647 -0.06843 0.135 -0.8317 0.289 138
beta -0.01459 -0.01117 0.01468 -0.06405 0 138
rho 0.106 0.09161 0.09456 -0.1627 0.3575 138
zeta 0.09964 0.08255 0.07586 0.05148 0.6958 138
eta 0.2153 0.1517 0.2291 0.0864 1.854 138
rsqr1 0.2573 0.2231 0.1945 0.002364 0.7102 138
rsqr2 0.5048 0.5415 0.09523 0.1705 0.6108 138

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) 36 26.1%
T > 20°C (beyond graph) 0 0.0%
T < 0°C (negative crossing) 69 50.0%
Valid crossings (0-20°C) 33 23.9%
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)
0.1705 0.4866 0.5415 0.5678 0.6108

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 0.5675
Sum(η²) 13.5894
Sum(D²) at T=3.0°C 31.4187
N regions 138

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
CHE -0.196 -0.0163 0.116 0.71
HRV -0.169 -0.00238 0.0938 0.627
MNE -0.15 -0.00981 0.106 0.605
CAF -0.00357 -0.00215 0.153 0.0041
PAK 0.0664 -0.0172 0.231 0.00607
MYS 0.0345 -0.0168 0.409 0.0078
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: 0.7723 | RMSE: 0.118541 | Sign agreement: 90.6%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
GUY 0.0375 0.0373 -2.28e-4
IRN -0.124 -0.122 0.00229
MYS 0.00494 0.00253 -0.00241
BFA -0.0617 -0.0591 0.00261
LBY -0.207 -0.211 -0.0034
IND -0.406 0.00191 0.408
ZWE -0.172 0.188 0.359
MDG -0.145 0.19 0.335
COD -0.164 0.157 0.321
VNM -0.597 -0.283 0.314

Correlation: 0.7904 | RMSE: 0.106477 | Sign agreement: 89.1%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
GTM -0.188 -0.188 1.65e-4
MMR -0.54 -0.54 -2.10e-4
AZE -0.104 -0.107 -0.00348
TUR -0.129 -0.134 -0.00548
PRY -0.142 -0.149 -0.00721
IND -0.37 0.00192 0.372
VNM -0.588 -0.285 0.303
COD -0.135 0.159 0.294
MDG -0.0849 0.2 0.285
SOM -0.0467 0.231 0.278

Correlation: 0.7640 | RMSE: 0.105206 | Sign agreement: 90.6%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
LTU -0.0586 -0.0578 8.09e-4
PRY -0.149 -0.15 -9.42e-4
SLV -0.0869 -0.0889 -0.00201
BGR -0.191 -0.195 -0.00427
BRA -0.179 -0.174 0.00467
IND -0.37 0.00199 0.372
SOM -0.0948 0.258 0.353
MDG -0.0956 0.199 0.294
ZWE -0.0681 0.195 0.264
THA -0.231 -0.493 -0.262

Correlation: 0.7505 | RMSE: 0.107669 | Sign agreement: 89.9%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
MNG 0.223 0.223 2.77e-4
ARM -0.111 -0.112 -5.93e-4
GUY 0.0403 0.0391 -0.00125
CHL -0.0796 -0.0809 -0.0013
BOL -0.0298 -0.0275 0.00227
SOM -0.0891 0.248 0.337
IND -0.311 0.00198 0.313
BTN -0.822 -1.11 -0.289
THA -0.216 -0.498 -0.283
MDG -0.0552 0.211 0.266

Correlation: 0.7629 | RMSE: 0.111616 | Sign agreement: 88.4%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
IRN -0.121 -0.122 -9.84e-4
TUR -0.133 -0.134 -0.00118
GUY 0.036 0.0372 0.00123
HND -0.056 -0.0545 0.00155
ARM -0.11 -0.112 -0.00173
SOM -0.205 0.27 0.475
IND -0.397 0.00192 0.399
VNM -0.601 -0.284 0.317
MDG -0.075 0.202 0.277
ZWE -0.0636 0.197 0.261

Correlation: 0.7412 | RMSE: 0.109132 | Sign agreement: 89.9%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 1.94°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
JOR -0.0474 -0.0486 -0.00124
CA- 0.0112 0.0147 0.00352
NIC -0.0624 -0.0583 0.00413
ARG -0.157 -0.153 0.0044
LTU -0.0531 -0.0581 -0.00495
BTN -0.77 -1.11 -0.343
IND -0.321 0.00197 0.323
THA -0.19 -0.499 -0.31
MMR -0.278 -0.585 -0.307
SOM -0.0372 0.24 0.278

Correlation: 0.8596 | RMSE: 0.192650 | Sign agreement: 94.9%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
VNM -0.809 -0.81 -0.00142
CA- -0.0927 -0.09 0.00273
IRQ -0.339 -0.342 -0.00285
RUS -0.243 -0.246 -0.00289
PRY -0.318 -0.311 0.00706
BGD -1.85 -1.08 0.767
NPL -1.67 -0.908 0.761
IND -0.881 -0.255 0.626
ZWE -0.312 0.19 0.503
MAR -0.777 -0.307 0.47

Correlation: 0.8833 | RMSE: 0.161161 | Sign agreement: 94.2%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
IRN -0.342 -0.345 -0.00302
EST -0.236 -0.232 0.00444
UZB -0.227 -0.233 -0.00605
YEM -0.149 -0.142 0.00768
USA -0.595 -0.606 -0.0104
NPL -1.54 -0.932 0.613
IND -0.85 -0.257 0.593
BGD -1.67 -1.12 0.546
THA -0.612 -1.05 -0.435
COD -0.375 0.00215 0.378

Correlation: 0.8773 | RMSE: 0.151833 | Sign agreement: 94.2%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
NIC -0.119 -0.122 -0.00296
SVN -0.681 -0.677 0.00389
LVA -0.147 -0.141 0.00647
ALB -0.318 -0.325 -0.00728
PSE -0.314 -0.306 0.00779
THA -0.531 -1.06 -0.529
IND -0.739 -0.267 0.472
BTN -1.93 -2.34 -0.41
BGD -1.51 -1.13 0.382
SOM -0.28 0.0864 0.366

Correlation: 0.8854 | RMSE: 0.150984 | Sign agreement: 92.8%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
ROU -0.433 -0.432 6.56e-4
PRK -0.465 -0.468 -0.00349
ETH -0.283 -0.279 0.00447
MNE -0.554 -0.549 0.00547
MNG 0.408 0.414 0.00623
THA -0.48 -1.07 -0.59
IND -0.734 -0.265 0.469
BTN -1.94 -2.39 -0.445
SOM -0.271 0.083 0.354
EGY -0.226 -0.563 -0.337

Correlation: 0.8915 | RMSE: 0.153062 | Sign agreement: 93.5%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
PRY -0.314 -0.314 3.29e-4
OMN -0.621 -0.622 -0.00177
HND -0.115 -0.117 -0.00252
NIC -0.119 -0.122 -0.00357
UZB -0.228 -0.233 -0.00496
IND -0.85 -0.257 0.593
SOM -0.417 0.0906 0.508
MAR -0.717 -0.311 0.406
THA -0.66 -1.03 -0.372
BGD -1.5 -1.15 0.357

Correlation: 0.8756 | RMSE: 0.154961 | Sign agreement: 92.0%

Top 5 best predicted   Top 5 worst predicted
Year 2098 · Tmean across these regions: 4.17°C
Region Raw Flex Residual
KO- -0.416 -0.416 -3.81e-4
HRV -0.505 -0.504 7.52e-4
PRK -0.467 -0.465 0.00222
KAZ -0.14 -0.137 0.00227
BLR -0.361 -0.358 0.00299
THA -0.488 -1.07 -0.585
BTN -1.92 -2.39 -0.469
IND -0.733 -0.264 0.468
TKM -0.148 -0.48 -0.333
MMR -0.928 -1.26 -0.33
Note · countries with no wheat combined data (shown white on every map above; the GCP wheat combined pipeline does not run sims for non-producing countries): ABW, AIA, ALA, AND, ASM, ATA, ATF, ATG, BES, BHR, BHS, BLM, BMU, BRB, BRN, BVT, CCK, CIV, CL-, COK, COM, CPV, CRI, CUB, CUW, CXR, CYM, CYP, DJI, DMA, DOM, ESH, FJI, FLK, FRO, FSM, GAB, GGY, Ghana, GIB, GIN, GLP, GMB, GNB, GNQ, GRD, GRL, GUF, GUM, HKG, HMD, HTI, Indonesia, IMN, IOT, ISL, JAM, JEY, KHM, KIR, KNA, LBR, LCA, LIE, LKA, MAC, MAF, MCO, MDV, MHL, MNP, MSR, MTQ, MUS, MYT, NFK, NIU, NRU, PAN, PCN, Philippines, PLW, PNG, PRI, PYF, QAT, REU, SGP, SGS, SHN, SJM, SLB, SLE, SMX, SP-, SPM, STP, SUR, SYC, TCA, TGO, TKL, TLS, TON, TTO, TUV, TWN, UMI, VAT, VCT, VGB, VIR, VUT, WLF, WSM.

10.1 Scenario Summary

Table 7: Fit statistics across all 12 scenarios
RCP SSP Model N Corr RMSE Sign%
rcp45 SSP2 high 138 0.7723 0.118541 90.6%
rcp45 SSP2 low 138 0.7904 0.106477 89.1%
rcp45 SSP3 high 138 0.764 0.105206 90.6%
rcp45 SSP3 low 138 0.7505 0.107669 89.9%
rcp45 SSP4 high 138 0.7629 0.111616 88.4%
rcp45 SSP4 low 138 0.7412 0.109132 89.9%
rcp85 SSP2 high 138 0.8596 0.19265 94.9%
rcp85 SSP2 low 138 0.8833 0.161161 94.2%
rcp85 SSP3 high 138 0.8773 0.151833 94.2%
rcp85 SSP3 low 138 0.8854 0.150984 92.8%
rcp85 SSP4 high 138 0.8915 0.153062 93.5%
rcp85 SSP4 low 138 0.8756 0.154961 92.0%

11 Data Reference

11.1 File Locations

Item Path
Regional CSV /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture__wheat_combined_country__regional_parameters.csv
Global JSON /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture__wheat_combined_country__global_results.json
Metadata JSON /project/cil/gcp/flex_damage_funcs/parameters/agriculture__wheat_combined_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