Droughts & Floods – an Economic Analysis of Natural Disasters (PEC2107.01)

Lopamudra Banerjee

Extreme fluctuations in rainfall and temperature may bring about drought and flood conditions in a region, but, the experiences of these natural extremes are not similar for all regions of the world. Neither are their effects similar for all people living in an affected region. Why are the disaster experiences spatially different? Why are the disaster exposure effects unequal in a population? These are the questions that will motivate the present seminar. While we will examine the questions primarily through the disciplinary lenses of economics and political economy, we will also draw upon other branches in social theories and natural sciences to present our analyses. Our case studies will be drawn from drought- and flood-prone regions of tropical east Africa, South Asia and South East Asia, and from the more temperate regions of island and continental Europe. Additionally, we will explore how causes and effects of flood and drought disasters on people can be empirically studied in terms of household survey datasets. This will be a seminar for students in their first and second year of college.

Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 4
M 4:10pm - 6:00pm; Th 4:10pm - 6:00pm
Maximum Enrollment: 18
Course Frequency:
This course is categorized as 2000, All courses, CAPA, Environment, Four Credit, Lopamudra Banerjee, Monday and/or Thursday Afternoons, Political Economy, and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , .