Should you go to work during a heat wave? Your productivity suffers, and GDP tanks when it’s hot

A record-breaking heat wave in Europe is causing economic damage through reduced labor productivity and rising cooling costs, with Allianz estimating $638 billion in cumulative GDP losses by 2030 for France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. Research highlights that heat reduces student performance, increases workplace accidents, and lowers GDP growth, with most damage stemming from frequent, less extreme heat events rather than record-breaking extremes.