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Death tolls from natural disasters: Influence of interactions between fiscal decentralization, institution, and economic development

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  • Yamamura, Eiji

Abstract

Previous research shows that the effect of decentralization on damage caused by natural disasters will differ according a country’s level of economic development. To investigate this matter further, this paper uses cross-country data from 1990 to 2001 to examine how decentralization, institution, and economic development influence the number of deaths caused by natural disasters. The major findings are that decentralization reduces deaths and its effect is strengthened in countries with lower levels of public sector corruption and better functioning legal systems. Furthermore, the interaction between decentralization and high quality institutions has a greater contribution to the reduction of deaths in more developed countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Yamamura, Eiji, 2012. "Death tolls from natural disasters: Influence of interactions between fiscal decentralization, institution, and economic development," MPRA Paper 36987, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:36987
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    Cited by:

    1. Chandra Bahinipati & Unmesh Patnaik, 2015. "The damages from climatic extremes in India: do disaster-specific and generic adaptation measures matter?," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 17(1), pages 157-177, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Natural disaster; law and order; corruption; economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • K10 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - General (Constitutional Law)
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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