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Climate change costs more than we think because people adapt less than we assume

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  • Gawith, David
  • Hodge, Ian
  • Morgan, Fraser
  • Daigneault, Adam

Abstract

Human behaviour is commonly optimised in economic models of adaptation to climate change. These models assume that people work to maximise profit, subject to financial and technological limitations. In effect, these models simulate adaptive potential. In reality, adaptation falls short of this potential. This shortfall is conceptualised as the adaptation deficit, and it has been causing increasing concern.

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  • Gawith, David & Hodge, Ian & Morgan, Fraser & Daigneault, Adam, 2020. "Climate change costs more than we think because people adapt less than we assume," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:173:y:2020:i:c:s092180091930789x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106636
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    6. Gil-Clavel, Sofia & Wagenblast, Thorid & Akkerman, Joos & Filatova, Tatiana, 2024. "Patterns in Reported Adaptation Constraints: Insights from Peer-Reviewed Literature on Flood and Sea-Level Rise," SocArXiv 3cqvn, Center for Open Science.
    7. Taberna, Alessandro & Filatova, Tatiana & Roventini, Andrea & Lamperti, Francesco, 2022. "Coping with increasing tides: Evolving agglomeration dynamics and technological change under exacerbating hazards," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).

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