The political economy of FEMA disaster payments

Thomas Garrett and Russell Sobel

No 2002-012, Working Papers from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Abstract: We find that presidential and congressional influences affect the rate of disaster declaration and the allocation of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) disaster expenditures across states. States politically important to the president have a higher rate of disaster declaration by the president, and disaster expenditures are higher in states having congressional representation on FEMA oversight committees. Election year impacts are also found. Our models predict that nearly half of all disaster relief is motivated politically rather than by need. The findings reject a purely altruistic model of FEMA assistance and question the relative effectiveness of government versus private disaster relief.

Keywords: Disaster; relief (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Political Economy of FEMA Disaster Payments (2003)
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