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The Well-Being of Elderly Survivors After Natural Disasters: Measuring the Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake

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  • Saki Sugano

    (Kobe University)

Abstract

The Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011 had a devastating impact on the northeastern part of Japan. In the quasi-experimental situation, using panel data collected 6 months after the earthquake, the present study examines the causal effects of the disaster on both the economic and psychological well-being of elderly survivors affected by the earthquake and tsunami. The results by difference-in-difference estimation show that there was a significant impact on expenditure and employment, but little significant impact on subjective well-being or health. The impact on well-being and health of survivors may have been mitigated by the early economic recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Saki Sugano, 2016. "The Well-Being of Elderly Survivors After Natural Disasters: Measuring the Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 67(2), pages 211-229, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecrev:v:67:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1111_jere.12103
    DOI: 10.1111/jere.12103
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    Cited by:

    1. Okuyama, Naoko & Inaba, Yoji, 2017. "Influence of natural disasters on social engagement and post-disaster well-being: The case of the Great East Japan Earthquake," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-13.
    2. Sunbin Yoo & Junya Kumagai & Yuta Kawabata & Alexander Ryota Keeley & Shunsuke Managi, 2022. "Insuring Well-Being: Psychological Adaptation to Disasters," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 471-494, November.
    3. Anqi Li & Shiko Maruyama, 2024. "Who suffered most in the pandemic? A distribution regression analysis of happiness in Japan," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 75(4), pages 637-690, December.
    4. Xiao Zhou & Rui Zhen & Xinchun Wu, 2019. "Understanding the Relation between Gratitude and Life Satisfaction among Adolescents in a Post-Disaster Context: Mediating Roles of Social Support, Self-Esteem, and Hope," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(5), pages 1781-1795, October.
    5. Shuhei Kaneko & Haruko Noguchi, 2020. "Impacts of Natural Disaster on Changes in Parental and Children's Time Allocation: Evidence from the Great East Japan Earthquake," Working Papers 2006, Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics.
    6. MATSUMOTO Kodai, 2024. "Effects of Welfare Receipt on Well-being: Evidence from older people in Japan," Discussion papers 24039, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    I31; Q54;

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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