How do Natural Disasters Affect Economic Growth in the Long Run?

Summary

Professor Stephanie Lackner explains her research on the impact of natural disasters on economic growth in the long run. Despite different theories supporting both negative and positive impacts of natural disasters on the economy, she argues that the long-run productivity effects of natural disasters are not predetermined. She argues these effects can vary depending on factors such as vulnerability of infrastructure, disaster preparation and response, or access to financing and insurance for reconstruction.

Professor’s bio

Stephanie Lackner is an Assistant Professor in Economics at the IE Business School and the School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs

Her research interests revolve around natural hazards, the socioeconomic impacts of disasters and geospatial data analysis. She was trained as an economist and she uses applied methods to address topics in environmental economics and development economics in her work. After finishing her PhD in Sustainable Development at Columbia University, she completed a postdoc at the Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (STEP) at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.