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The Political Economy of ``Natural'' Disasters

Author

Listed:
  • Charles Cohen

    (Vice President Sankaty Advisors)

  • Eric D. Werker

    (Harvard Business School Harvard University)

Abstract

Natural disasters occur in a political space. Although events beyond our control may trigger a disaster, the level of government preparedness and response greatly determines the extent of suffering incurred by the affected population. The authors use a political-economy model of disaster prevention, supported by case studies and preliminary empirics, to explain why some governments prepare well for disasters and others do not. The authors show how the presence of international aid distorts this choice and increases the chance that governments will underinvest. Policy suggestions that may alleviate this problem are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Cohen & Eric D. Werker, 2008. "The Political Economy of ``Natural'' Disasters," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 52(6), pages 795-819, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:52:y:2008:i:6:p:795-819
    DOI: 10.1177/0022002708322157
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Hoddinott, John & Margolies, Amy, 2012. "Mapping the Impacts of Food Aid: Current Knowledge and Future Directions," WIDER Working Paper Series 034, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Dreher, Axel & Fuchs, Andreas & Langlotz, Sarah, 2019. "The effects of foreign aid on refugee flows," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 127-147.
    5. Timo Goeschl & Shunsuke Managi, 2019. "Public in-Kind Relief and Private Self-Insurance," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 3-21, April.
    6. Paulo Bastos & Sebastian Miller, 2013. "Politics under the Weather: Droughts, Parties and Electoral Outcomes," Research Department Publications IDB-WP-455, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    7. Paul A. Raschky & Manijeh Schwindt, 2016. "Aid, Catastrophes and the Samaritan's Dilemma," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 83(332), pages 624-645, October.
    8. Timo Goeschl & Shunsuke Managi, 2019. "Public in-Kind Relief and Private Self-Insurance," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 3-21, April.
    9. Walker, Stephen P., 2014. "Drought, resettlement and accounting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(7), pages 604-619.
    10. Claude Berrebi & Jordan Ostwald, 2011. "Earthquakes, hurricanes, and terrorism: do natural disasters incite terror?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 383-403, December.
    11. Cavalcanti, Francisco, 2018. "Voters sometimes provide the wrong incentives. The lesson of the Brazilian drought industry," MPRA Paper 88317, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Wooyeal Paik, 2016. "Domestic politics, regional integration, and human rights: interactions among Myanmar, ASEAN, and EU," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 417-434, December.
    13. Motoyama, Takumi, 2017. "Optimal disaster-preventive expenditure in a dynamic and stochastic model," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 28-47.
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    16. Chun-Ping Chang & Aziz N. Berdiev, 2015. "Do natural disasters increase the likelihood that a government is replaced?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(17), pages 1788-1808, April.

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