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Density and Disasters: Economics of Urban Hazard Risk

Author

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  • Somik V. Lall
  • Uwe Deichmann

Abstract

Today, 370 million people live in cities in earthquake prone areas and 310 million in cities with a high probability of tropical cyclones. By 2050 these numbers are likely to more than double, leading to a greater concentration of hazard risk in many of the world's cities. The authors discuss what sets hazard risk in urban areas apart, summarize estimates of valuation of hazard risk, and discuss implications for individual mitigation and public policy. The main conclusions are that urban agglomeration economies change the cost–benefit calculation of hazard mitigation; that good hazard management is first and foremost good general urban management; and that the public sector must perform better in promoting market-based risk reduction by generating and disseminating credible information on hazard risk in cities. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Somik V. Lall & Uwe Deichmann, 2012. "Density and Disasters: Economics of Urban Hazard Risk," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 27(1), pages 74-105, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbrobs:v:27:y:2012:i:1:p:74-105
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wbro/lkr006
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    Cited by:

    1. Heidi Tuhkanen & Michael Boyland & Guoyi Han & Anjalee Patel & Karlee Johnson & Arno Rosemarin & Ladylyn Lim Mangada, 2018. "A Typology Framework for Trade-Offs in Development and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Case Study of Typhoon Haiyan Recovery in Tacloban, Philippines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Mook Bangalore & Andrew Smith & Ted Veldkamp, 2019. "Exposure to Floods, Climate Change, and Poverty in Vietnam," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 79-99, April.
    3. Stéphane Hallegatte, 2012. "An exploration of the link between development, economic growth, and natural risk," Post-Print hal-00802047, HAL.
    4. Bangalore, Mook & Smith, Andrew & Veldkamp, Ted, 2018. "Exposure to floods, climate change, and poverty in Vietnam," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 100215, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Kousky, Carolyn, 2012. "Informing Climate Adaptation: A Review of the Economic Costs of Natural Disasters, Their Determinants, and Risk Reduction Options," RFF Working Paper Series dp-12-28, Resources for the Future.
    6. Fatima Shah & Federica Ranghieri, . "A Workbook on Planning for Urban Resilience in the Face of Disasters : Adapting Experiences from Vietnam’s Cities to Other Cities," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2235, October.
    7. repec:wbk:wbpubs:15790 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Fatima Shah & Federica Ranghieri, 2012. "A Workbook on Planning for Urban Resilience in the Face of Disasters : Adapting Experiences from Vietnam’s Cities to Other Cities," World Bank Publications - Reports 2235, The World Bank Group.
    9. Daniel Felsenstein & Michal Lichter, 2014. "Social and economic vulnerability of coastal communities to sea-level rise and extreme flooding," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 71(1), pages 463-491, March.
    10. Hallegatte,Stephane & Bangalore,Mook & Jouanjean,Marie Agnes, 2016. "Higher losses and slower development in the absence of disaster risk management investments," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7632, The World Bank.
    11. Elias Garcia-Urquia, 2016. "Establishing rainfall frequency contour lines as thresholds for rainfall-induced landslides in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 1980–2005," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 82(3), pages 2107-2132, July.
    12. Yaella Depietri & Lorenzo Guadagno & Margaretha Breil, 2013. "Urban Watershed Services For Improved Ecosystem Management and Risk Reduction, Assessment Methods and Policy Instruments: State of the Art," Working Papers 2013.101, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.

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