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Disaster Policy in the US Federation: Intergovernmental Incentives and Institutional Reform

David Wildasin

No 2007-01, Working Papers from University of Kentucky, Institute for Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations

Abstract: The devastation resulting from the hurricanes of 2005 could largely have been avoided at modest cost, evidence of a policy failure that may stem from misaligned incentives among levels of government. In particular, Federal government provision of ex post disaster relief means that subnational governments are not rewarded for costly but socially efficient policies that limit disaster losses. A system of Federally-mandated, state-funded disaster reserves would strengthen subnational government incentives to implement more disaster-averse policies. Illustrative calculations show that the costs of such reserves would vary widely by state but would not impose undue burdens on state fiscal systems.

Pages: 19 pages
Date: 2007-04
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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