Disasters And The Networked Economy

The book "Disasters And The Networked Economy" by J.M. Albala-Bertrand discusses the difficulties of using mainstream quantitative analysis and simulations to understand the long-term macroeconomic effects of disasters. The author argues that societal networking and disaster localization are crucial for understanding disaster effects and responses. The book also builds upon the author's previous work, "The Political Economy of Large Natural Disasters," which argued that disasters are a problem of development rather than a problem for development. The book proposes a framework based on societal networking and economic localization to show that natural disasters are unlikely to impair societal functionality. It will be of interest to scholars and practitioners in disaster analysis and response policy, as well as students of development economics. The book also explores the economic impact of disasters on both local and national economies.

Mainstream quantitative analysis and simulations are fraught with difficulties and are intrinsically unable to deal appropriately with long-term macroeconomic effects of disasters. In this new book, J.M. Albala-Bertrand develops the themes introduced in his past book, The Political Economy of Large Natural Disasters (Clarendon Press, 1993), to show that societal networking and disaster localization constitute part of an essential framework to understand disaster effects and responses. The author's last book argued that disasters were a problem of development, rather than a problem for development. This volume takes the argument forward both in terms of the macroeconomic effects of disaster and development policy, arguing that economy and society are not inert objects, but living organisms. Using a framework based on societal networking and the economic localization of disasters, the author shows that societal functionality (defined as the capacity of a system to survive, reproduce and develop) is unlikely to be impaired by natural disasters. This book will be of interest to scholars and practitioners involved in disaster analysis and response policy, and will also be relevant to students of development economics. Review: The economic impact of disasters is hard to pin down. The local effects are indisputable, but whether there is an effect-either temporary or lasting-on the national economy is another matter. It's one that Albala-Bertrand explores in depth. - Dan Whipple, Natural Hazards Observer, July 2014