The measurement of disaster risk: An example from tropical cyclones in the Philippines

Rio Yonson, J. C. Gaillard and Ilan Noy

No 19395, Working Paper Series from Victoria University of Wellington, School of Economics and Finance

Abstract: What shapes people’s disaster risk exposure? Using a sub-national (provincial) panel econometric and deductive approach we answer this question by focussing on tropical cyclones, and using the Philippines as a case study for our measurement approach. We construct a new provincial level panel dataset, and use panel estimation methods to assess the influence of socioeconomic (vulnerability), geographic, demographic, topographic (exposure), and meteorological (hazard) characteristics on the resulting fatalities and affected persons from recent tropical cyclones. We find strong evidence that socioeconomic development reduces people’s vulnerability and loss of human lives. Further, good local governance is associated with fewer fatalities. Rapid and unplanned urbanization generates vulnerabilities and increases harm. Exposure, including topography, and hazard strength are likewise important determinants. However, disaster impacts on people appear to be influenced much more by vulnerability and exposure, than by the hazard itself. We quantify this difference in order to contribute to policy planning at national and sub-national scales.

Keywords: Natural disasters; Risk; Tropical cyclones (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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https://ir.wgtn.ac.nz/handle/123456789/19395

Related works:
Journal Article: The measurement of disaster risk: An example from tropical cyclones in the Philippines (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vuw:vuwecf:19395

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