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Information/communication technology and natural disaster vulnerability

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  • Toya, Hideki
  • Skidmore, Mark

Abstract

Over the last several decades the world has experienced a revolution in information and communication technologies (ICT). Improved communications has transformed societies, and as we show in this study, has also served to reduce natural disaster vulnerability. Using cross-country data over the 1980–2013 period to estimate the relationship between ICT and disaster fatalities, our estimates indicate that as ICT access improves countries experience fewer disaster-induced fatalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Toya, Hideki & Skidmore, Mark, 2015. "Information/communication technology and natural disaster vulnerability," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 143-145.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:137:y:2015:i:c:p:143-145
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2015.10.018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert C. Feenstra & Robert Inklaar & Marcel P. Timmer, 2015. "The Next Generation of the Penn World Table," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(10), pages 3150-3182, October.
    2. Cutter, W. Bowman & Neidell, Matthew, 2009. "Voluntary information programs and environmental regulation: Evidence from 'Spare the Air'," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(3), pages 253-265, November.
    3. Jenny C. Aker & Marcel Fafchamps, 2015. "Mobile Phone Coverage and Producer Markets: Evidence from West Africa," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 29(2), pages 262-292.
    4. Robert Jensen, 2007. "The Digital Provide: Information (Technology), Market Performance, and Welfare in the South Indian Fisheries Sector," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(3), pages 879-924.
    5. Matthew E. Kahn, 2005. "The Death Toll from Natural Disasters: The Role of Income, Geography, and Institutions," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 87(2), pages 271-284, May.
    6. Anbarci, Nejat & Escaleras, Monica & Register, Charles A., 2005. "Earthquake fatalities: the interaction of nature and political economy," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(9-10), pages 1907-1933, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Richard S. J. Tol, 2021. "The Economic Impact of Climate in the Long Run," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Anil Markandya & Dirk Rübbelke (ed.), CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT, chapter 1, pages 3-36, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Ying Li & Yung‐ho Chiu & Tai‐Yu Lin & Hongyi Cen & Yabin Liu, 2021. "Evaluation of natural disaster treatment efficiency in 27 Chinese provinces," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(3), pages 256-288, August.
    3. Hideki Toya & Mark Skidmore, 2018. "Cellular Telephones and Natural Disaster Vulnerability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-13, August.
    4. Richard S. J. Tol, 2022. "State capacity and vulnerability to natural disasters," Chapters, in: Mark Skidmore (ed.), Handbook on the Economics of Disasters, chapter 20, pages 434-457, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic development; Natural disasters; Information/communication technology; Vulnerability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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