Planet Money The natural disaster economist
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Sep 27, 2023 
Tatyana Deryugina, a leading expert on the economics of natural disasters, sheds light on the growing impact of climate change on disaster frequency and resilience. She discusses how communities respond economically to crises like Hurricane Katrina, revealing surprising trends in recovery and income. The conversation highlights the relationship between charitable giving and disaster impact, as well as the challenges facing the insurance market. Deryugina emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of risk and innovative responses to these increasingly common events.
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Hurricane Katrina Study
- Tatyana Deryugina and Steve Levitt studied the long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina.
- They used tax records to track individuals' income over several years.
Income Increase After Katrina
- Hurricane Katrina victims' incomes recovered by 2007, exceeding predicted levels afterward.
- This surprising result prompted investigation into the reasons.
Rising Costs and Wages
- Increased cost of living in post-Katrina New Orleans led to higher wages.
- Housing destruction caused limited supply and increased prices.