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Natural Disasters and Preferences for the Environment: Evidence from the Impressionable Years

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  • Raphael Corbi
  • Chiara Falco

Abstract

Do generations affected by natural disasters during the critical years of adolescence and early adulthood form different preferences towards the environment than generations who are not? Consistent with the theories of social psychology, we show that an environmental shock experienced during the impressionable years (18-25 years old) help shape positive environmental preferences. Individuals tend not to change beliefs in response to natural disasters experienced in other age ranges. Using information from the General Social Survey and World Values Survey, we exploit yearly natural disasters variation both within the US and across countries to identify these effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Raphael Corbi & Chiara Falco, 2022. "Natural Disasters and Preferences for the Environment: Evidence from the Impressionable Years," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2022_07, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).
    • Handle: RePEc:spa:wpaper:2022wpecon07
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    2. Maria Cotofan & Karlygash Kuralbayeva & Konstantinos Matakos, 2024. "Global warming cools voters down: How climate concerns affect policy preferences," CEP Discussion Papers dp1991, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    beliefs formation; natural disasters; environmental policy; impressionable;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Z18 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Public Policy
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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