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Can't Shake It Off: Earthquakes and Social Cohesion in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Daria Denti
  • Alessandra Faggian
  • Marco Modica
  • Ilan Noy

Abstract

Do earthquakes strengthen social cohesion or undermine it? While some theories suggest they strengthen social bonds, others suggest they lead to social disintegration. We add to the limited causal evidence on this phenomenon using the 2012 Northern Italy earthquake, and exploit a unique dataset that captures different earthquake characteristics and multiple dimensions of social cohesion through behavioral measures. Difference-in-differences and event-study estimates show that the earthquake shifted behavior toward individualism and out-group hostility, and that short-run increases in linking social capital were followed by later erosion. Critically, dwelling damage had stronger and more persistent effects than the physical shaking, suggesting that visible, measurable destruction has a more profound impact on social cohesion. These findings further advance our understanding by demonstrating that different dimensions of social cohesion respond differently to earthquakes, with varying recovery patterns depending on earthquake characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Daria Denti & Alessandra Faggian & Marco Modica & Ilan Noy, 2026. "Can't Shake It Off: Earthquakes and Social Cohesion in Italy," CESifo Working Paper Series 12585, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12585
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Johar, Meliyanni & Johnston, David W. & Shields, Michael A. & Siminski, Peter & Stavrunova, Olena, 2022. "The economic impacts of direct natural disaster exposure," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 26-39.
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    4. García Hombrados, Jorge, 2020. "The lasting effects of natural disasters on property crime: Evidence from the 2010 Chilean earthquake," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 114-154.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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