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Post-Disaster Business Recovery and Sustainable Development: A Study of 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake

Author

Listed:
  • Lifang Huang

    (School of Construction Management and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 40045, China)

  • Lin Wang

    (School of Construction Management and Real Estate, Research Center for Construction Economy and Management, Chongqing University, Chongqing 40045, China)

  • Jie Song

    (Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China)

Abstract

Business sectors are essential for community prosperity, and thus it is important to investigate the recovery of businesses after disasters. However, current studies on business recovery after natural disasters are limited, particularly a lack of empirical observations in developing countries. Our observations of the patterns and transformations of small businesses in the recovery process after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China can bridge this gap and provide a valuable contribution to academia. We conducted research through a four-year longitudinal study to track small business recovery in Beichuan County since 2014. Field observations, repeat photography, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The operating status, business type, and spatiotemporal changes of small businesses in the new business district, Banaqia, were demonstrated. Overall, less than 50% of the planned shops were occupied and in operation, and this figure keeps declining from 2014 to 2017. Catering, garments, and souvenirs are the primary business types, but they show individual patterns in terms of sustainable development and spatial configuration. The results help to inform the development of recovery policies following disasters in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Lifang Huang & Lin Wang & Jie Song, 2018. "Post-Disaster Business Recovery and Sustainable Development: A Study of 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:651-:d:134061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fangxin Yi & Yong Tu, 2018. "An Evaluation of the Paired Assistance to Disaster-Affected Areas Program in Disaster Recovery: The Case of the Wenchuan Earthquake," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Guijuan Tang, 2020. "Research on transformation from “paired assistance” to “collaborative networks” in post-disaster recovery of 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China," 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. 104(1), pages 31-53, October.
    3. Morrish, Sussie C. & Jones, Rosalind, 2020. "Post-disaster business recovery: An entrepreneurial marketing perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 83-92.
    4. Zhichao Li & Xihan Tan, 2018. "Revitalization of Trust in Local Government after Wenchuan Earthquake: Constraints and Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Sapkota, Jeet Bahadur, 2018. "Human well-being after 2015 Nepal earthquake: micro-evidence from one of the hardest hit rural villages," MPRA Paper 106096, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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