IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ediscc/v6y2022i3d10.1007_s41885-022-00118-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Relation Between Socioeconomic Status and Risk Attitudes: A Nuclear Accident Scenario in Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Joel Rasmussen

    (Örebro University)

  • Jens Ewald

    (University of Gothenburg)

Abstract

Nuclear power plant (NPP) disasters are complex and dreaded scenarios. However, existing recovery plans presuppose that citizens will return to live in decontaminated areas following evacuation. Research on natural disasters has shown that high socioeconomic status (SES) influences people to continue living in their homes in recovery areas. This study examines the association between SES and citizens’ risk attitudes to a radiological emergency scenario and demonstrates instead that high SES implies a greater likeliness to move away from the accident-affected area. This is substantiated by survey data of Swedish citizens’ (N = 2,291) attitudes to a scenario where an NPP accident, evacuation, and remediation occur. More specifically, the study provides statistically significant results to show that high income is associated with less worry over ionizing radiation. Still, high-income individuals also appear to be more likely to move if their neighborhood is affected by radioactive fallout than low-income individuals. Moreover, the results for education show that low education is associated with remaining in the decontamination area, and the relation between education and worry over ionizing radiation provides some support for assumptions about the “anxious middle.” Overall, this study finds that decontamination is complicated by a majority of people preferring permanent relocation as well as by indications that more resourceful citizens are generally more likely to leave the area permanently, which may impede the fulfillment of state agencies’ plans for recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Joel Rasmussen & Jens Ewald, 2022. "The Relation Between Socioeconomic Status and Risk Attitudes: A Nuclear Accident Scenario in Sweden," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 541-555, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ediscc:v:6:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s41885-022-00118-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s41885-022-00118-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s41885-022-00118-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s41885-022-00118-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lucas W. Davis, 2012. "Prospects for Nuclear Power," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 26(1), pages 49-66, Winter.
    2. Åsa Boholm & Hervé Corvellec & Marianne Karlsson, 2012. "The practice of risk governance: lessons from the field," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Brian Thiede & David Brown, 2013. "Hurricane Katrina: Who Stayed and Why?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 32(6), pages 803-824, December.
    4. Reininger, Belinda M. & Rahbar, Mohammad H. & Lee, MinJae & Chen, Zhongxue & Alam, Sartaj R. & Pope, Jennifer & Adams, Barbara, 2013. "Social capital and disaster preparedness among low income Mexican Americans in a disaster prone area," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 50-60.
    5. Aruga, Kentaka, 2015. "Consumer responses to food products produced near the Fukushima nuclear plant," MPRA Paper 66153, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Christina Paxson & Cecilia Rouse, 2008. "Returning to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina," Working Papers 1052, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    7. Lo, Alex Y., 2014. "Negative income effect on perception of long-term environmental risk," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 51-58.
    8. repec:pri:cepsud:168rouse is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Christina Paxson & Cecilia Rouse, 2008. "Returning to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina," Working Papers 1126, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Health and Wellbeing..
    10. Huhtala, Anni & Remes, Piia, 2017. "Quantifying the social costs of nuclear energy: Perceived risk of accident at nuclear power plants," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 320-331.
    11. Joel Rasmussen & Mats Eriksson & Johan Martinsson, 2022. "Citizens’ Communication Needs and Attitudes to Risk in a Nuclear Accident Scenario: A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    12. Terje Aven & Ortwin Renn, 2010. "Risk Management and Governance," Risk, Governance and Society, Springer, number 978-3-642-13926-0, September.
    13. Andreas Klinke & Ortwin Renn, 2012. "Adaptive and integrative governance on risk and uncertainty," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 273-292, March.
    14. Craig E. Landry & Okmyung Bin & Paul Hindsley & John C. Whitehead & Kenneth Wilson, 2007. "Going Home: Evacuation-Migration Decisions of Hurrican Katrina Survivors," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 74(2), pages 326-343, October.
    15. Joel Rasmussen & Petter B. Wikström, 2022. "Returning Home after Decontamination? Applying the Protective Action Decision Model to a Nuclear Accident Scenario," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.
    16. repec:pri:cheawb:paxson_rouse_katrina_returns is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Craig E. Landry & Okmyung Bin & Paul Hindsley & John C. Whitehead & Kenneth Wilson, 2007. "Going Home: Evacuation‐Migration Decisions of Hurricane Katrina Survivors," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 74(2), pages 326-343, October.
    18. Christina Paxson & Cecilia Elena Rouse, 2008. "Returning to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(2), pages 38-42, May.
    19. repec:pri:indrel:dsp0173666450b is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Christina Paxson & Cecilia E. Rouse, 2008. "Returning to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina," Working Papers 1043, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    21. Shingo Nagamatsu & Adam Rose & Jonathan Eyer, 2020. "Return Migration and Decontamination After the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(4), pages 800-817, April.
    22. Anna Olofsson & Susanna Öhman, 2015. "Vulnerability, values and heterogeneity: one step further to understand risk perception and behaviour," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 2-20, January.
    23. Simon Niklas Hellmich, 2017. "What is Socioeconomics? An Overview of Theories, Methods, and Themes in the Field," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(1), pages 3-25, January.
    24. Christina Paxson & Cecilia Rouse, 2008. "Returning to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina," Working Papers 1052, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alistair Munro & Shunsuke Managi, 2017. "Going Back: Radiation and Intentions to Return amongst Households Evacuated after the Great Tohoku Earthquake," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 77-93, June.
    2. Mavisakalyan, Astghik & Otrachshenko, Vladimir & Popova, Olga, 2024. "Natural Disasters and Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence: The Global Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 17172, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. 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.
    4. Barbieri, Stefano & Edwards, John H.Y., 2017. "Middle-class flight from post-Katrina New Orleans: A theoretical analysis of inequality and schooling," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 12-29.
    5. Jeffrey A. Groen & Anne E. Polivka, 2009. "Going Home after Hurricane Katrina: Determinants of Return Migration and Changes in Affected Areas," Working Papers 428, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    6. Narayan Sastry & Jesse Gregory, 2014. "The Location of Displaced New Orleans Residents in the Year After Hurricane Katrina," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(3), pages 753-775, June.
    7. Shingo Nagamatsu & Adam Rose & Jonathan Eyer, 2020. "Return Migration and Decontamination After the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(4), pages 800-817, April.
    8. Narayan Sastry & Jesse Gregory, 2012. "The Location of Displaced New Orleans Residents in the Year After Hurricane Katrina," Working Papers 12-19, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    9. Ariel R. Belasen & Solomon W. Polachek, 2013. "Natural disasters and migration," Chapters, in: Amelie F. Constant & Klaus F. Zimmermann (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Migration, chapter 17, pages 309-330, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    10. Sastry, Narayan & Gregory, Jesse, 2013. "The effect of Hurricane Katrina on the prevalence of health impairments and disability among adults in New Orleans: Differences by age, race, and sex," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 121-129.
    11. Heather Rosoff & Robert Siko & Richard John & William J. Burns, 2013. "Should I stay or should I go? An experimental study of health and economic government policies following a severe biological agent release," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 121-137, March.
    12. Graff Zivin, Joshua & Liao, Yanjun & Panassié, Yann, 2023. "How hurricanes sweep up housing markets: Evidence from Florida," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    13. Poutvaara, Panu & Ropponen, Olli, 2010. "School Shootings and Student Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 5009, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Ning Jia & Raven Molloy & Christopher Smith & Abigail Wozniak, 2023. "The Economics of Internal Migration: Advances and Policy Questions," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 61(1), pages 144-180, March.
    15. Brian C. Thiede & Heather Randell & Clark Gray, 2022. "The Childhood Origins of Climate‐Induced Mobility and Immobility," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 48(3), pages 767-793, September.
    16. Bruce Sacerdote, 2008. "When The Saints Come Marching In: Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Student Evacuees," NBER Working Papers 14385, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Justin Gallagher & Daniel Hartley, 2017. "Household Finance after a Natural Disaster: The Case of Hurricane Katrina," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 9(3), pages 199-228, August.
    18. Marcel Henkel, Eunjee Kwon, Pierre Magontier, 2022. "The Unintended Consequences of Post-Disaster Policies for Spatial Sorting," Diskussionsschriften credresearchpaper37, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft - CRED.
    19. Elliott, Robert J.R. & Liu, Yi & Strobl, Eric & Tong, Meng, 2019. "Estimating the direct and indirect impact of typhoons on plant performance: Evidence from Chinese manufacturers," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    20. Lisa Cameron & Manisha Shah, 2015. "Risk-Taking Behavior in the Wake of Natural Disasters," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 50(2), pages 484-515.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nuclear disasters; NPP accidents; Radiological risk; Socioeconomic status (SES); Risk attitude; Risk management; Public perception;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q30 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ediscc:v:6:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s41885-022-00118-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.