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The wider the gap between rich and poor the higher the flood mortality

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Lindersson

    (Uppsala University)

  • Elena Raffetti

    (Uppsala University
    University of Cambridge
    University of Cambridge
    Karolinska Institutet)

  • Maria Rusca

    (University of Manchester)

  • Luigia Brandimarte

    (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

  • Johanna Mård

    (Uppsala University)

  • Giuliano Di Baldassarre

    (Uppsala University)

Abstract

Economic inequality is rising within many countries globally, and this can significantly influence the social vulnerability to natural hazards. We analysed income inequality and flood disasters in 67 middle- and high-income countries between 1990 and 2018 and found that unequal countries tend to suffer more flood fatalities. This study integrates geocoded mortality records from 573 major flood disasters with population and economic data to perform generalized linear mixed regression modelling. Our results show that the significant association between income inequality and flood mortality persists after accounting for the per-capita real gross domestic product, population size in flood-affected regions and other potentially confounding variables. The protective effect of increasing gross domestic product disappeared when accounting for income inequality and population size in flood-affected regions. On the basis of our results, we argue that the increasingly uneven distribution of wealth deserves more attention within international disaster-risk research and policy arenas.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Lindersson & Elena Raffetti & Maria Rusca & Luigia Brandimarte & Johanna Mård & Giuliano Di Baldassarre, 2023. "The wider the gap between rich and poor the higher the flood mortality," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 995-1005, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:8:d:10.1038_s41893-023-01107-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01107-7
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    1. Phoebe Koundouri & Angelos Alamanos & Jeffrey D Sachs, 2024. "Innovating for Sustainability: The Global Climate Hub," DEOS Working Papers 2403, Athens University of Economics and Business.

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