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The impact of hurricanes and floods on domestic migration

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  • Sheldon, Tamara L.
  • Zhan, Crystal

Abstract

Migration is a possible adaptation to climate change. We employ FEMA disaster declaration data and American Community Survey data to study household post-disaster migration choices. We find that natural disasters increase households’ propensity to migrate both out of their county but within their greater metropolitan area, as well as out of their greater metropolitan area, by up to one percentage point. However, low-income households are especially less likely to move following disasters associated with less FEMA aid. We also find that disaster-affected migrants favor safer destinations. While migrating households appear to factor disaster risk reduction into relocation decisions, the results imply the need for incentivizing and aiding migration for vulnerable populations who are less likely to do so on their own.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheldon, Tamara L. & Zhan, Crystal, 2022. "The impact of hurricanes and floods on domestic migration," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:115:y:2022:i:c:s009506962200081x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2022.102726
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Natural disaster; Severity; Out-migration; Risk; Propensity score; Income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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