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How Does Paired Assistance to Disaster-Affected Areas (PADAA) Contribute to Economic Sustainability? A Qualitative Analysis of Wenchuan County

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  • Xiaojun Zhang

    (School of Economics & Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
    Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK)

  • Zhiqiang Wang

    (School of Public Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

Abstract

There is a high risk of an economic downturn after the end of reconstruction efforts following natural hazards. High levels of external assistance can sometimes weaken local autonomy and self-sufficiency, creating the pre-conditions for a “forgotten phase”. However, through the three-year Paired Assistance to Disaster-Affected Areas project (PADAA), the economy of Wenchuan County in China recovered to its pre-earthquake levels within two years and has shown clear signs of economic sustainability. Through a qualitative research approach based on the analysis of expert interviews, secondary data, and relevant documentation, this study discusses the phases of the reconstruction process following the Wenchuan earthquake, and the factors behind the success of the PADAA process in enabling economic sustainability. Some of the identified factors include: (1) the reshaping of local livelihoods and economic structure through a large number of investments in public infrastructure; (2) knowledge acquisition, self-adjustment, and the ability to meet the needs of a new economy and social development through institutional reform and openness; (3) increasing amounts of attracted investments and the development of sustainable industrial structures through the improvement of the local government’s economic governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaojun Zhang & Zhiqiang Wang, 2019. "How Does Paired Assistance to Disaster-Affected Areas (PADAA) Contribute to Economic Sustainability? A Qualitative Analysis of Wenchuan County," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:14:p:3915-:d:249432
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jifei Zhang & Shuai Zhang, 2022. "Assessing Integrated Effectiveness of Rural Socio-Economic Development and Environmental Protection of Wenchuan County in Southwestern China: An Approach Using Game Theory and VIKOR," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-17, October.

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