What time will it be? A comprehensive literature review on daylight saving time

Abstract

Daylight saving time (DST) affects millions of people in various everyday situations and is a common topic of debate in legislative parliaments around the world. This paper presents a literature review on the effects of the clock change and DST on electricity usage, health, crime rates, road safety, and economic aspects. This addresses a gap in current literature reviews, as there is a lack of linked analyses considering these research fields. We show that there are partial positive effects on crime rates and road safety generally that result from the delay in ambient light availability. This contrasts with the clearly negative effects on health and the economic aspects, which are mainly driven by the disturbed circadian rhythm and the resulting sleep problems. Furthermore, we find that the initial idea of DST to save electricity will probably no longer apply and may even lead to increased usage. This literature review provides a basis for future research and promotes interdisciplinary research by summarizing current findings in a cross-disciplinary manner and identifying research gaps and opportunities. Furthermore, the findings may guide policy-making discussions and decisions.