Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Papers in Economics,
University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics

No 553: Are Natural Disasters Good for Economic Growth?

Pelle Ahlerup ()
Additional contact information
Pelle Ahlerup: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University, Postal: P.O.Box 640, SE 40530 GOTHENBURG, Sweden

Abstract: Natural disasters plague the populations of many countries, and the international community often seeks to alleviate the human suffering by means of humanitarian aid. Do natural disasters also have negative effects on aggregate economic growth? This paper shows that natural disasters on average have a positive association with subsequent economic performance. This overall positive association is driven by the experience of democratic developing countries that receive humanitarian aid.

Keywords: natural disasters; economic growth; humanitarian aid.

JEL-codes: H84; O11; Q54

28 pages, February 20, 2013

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