Will the economic benefits of permanent afternoon daylight outweigh the health risks and dark winter mornings that doomed a similar experiment decades ago?

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Probably not on a nationwide, year-round basis, at least not under current evidence. The strongest economic case for permanent daylight saving time is practical rather than transformative: ending the twice-yearly clock change would likely reduce short-term productivity losses, scheduling friction and some disruption tied to the spring shift. Business groups, tourism officials and the golf and recreation industries argue that later sunsets increase after-work spending, outdoor activity and retail traffic. Some estimates suggest the clock change itself costs hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and evening light can help leisure-oriented sectors. But the broader evidence for large net economic gains is weak. Energy savings, once the main rationale, appear minimal. A federal review of extended daylight saving time found only a tiny reduction in electricity use, and analysts say gains would likely be modest and uneven across industries. Any boost to tourism or recreation could be offset by costs from darker winter mornings, including more difficult commuting conditions and possible increases in morning crashes. That tradeoff is why sleep and medical experts generally favor permanent standard time instead. Organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine say standard time aligns better with circadian biology. Research has linked clock changes to higher risks of heart problems, stroke, sleep disruption and traffic crashes, but many experts warn that permanent dayl…

Trump Posts 10-Digit Number in Fight Over 308-117 Daylight Saving Bill

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Trump Posts 10-Digit Number in Fight Over 308-117 Daylight Saving Bill

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