We ask whether children conceived during heat waves have better
health and educational outcomes later in life. Using Census data from
22 countries, we show that children conceived during heat waves have
higher literacy rates, attain more years of schooling, and lower rates
of disability than children conceived during periods of normal tempera-
tures. We then explore several channels through which this eect may
occur using a combined AIS, DHS, and MIS data set from sub-Saharan
Africa. We nd evidence more educated and wealthier women are more
likely to conceive a child during a heat wave, implying that part of the eect is explained by selection into conception by dierent types of par-
ents. We also show that dierential reductions in sexual activity during
heat waves among higher educated parents could be driving this efect.
We also nd higher rates of fetal loss for children conceived during heat
waves, implying that part of the result may be explained by natural
selection.