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Are natural disasters good for the economy?

Posted on 8/20/16 at 1:46 pm
Posted by TypoKnig
Member since Aug 2011
8928 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 1:46 pm
Obviously individuals and communities suffer during natural disasters but are they good for the economy?

On one hand, money is being spent now on demolition, construction, and other goods and jobs are being created. On the other hand, some people are out of work and disposable (and often times non-disposable income) that would have otherwise been saved or spent on a different economic sector (restaurant, entertainment, sports, etc.) is gone.
Posted by autodd03
Clown world
Member since Dec 2013
2532 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 1:56 pm to
Lots of broken windows
Posted by camweb68
Cecilia
Member since Oct 2008
418 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 1:57 pm to
Sadly they are. Just like a hurricane is great in my line of work but I feel bad because I don't want anyone to lose there life or homes.
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
261680 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 1:59 pm to
They can be. Localized, yes.
Posted by makinskrilla
Lafayette, LA
Member since Jun 2009
9728 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 1:59 pm to
To an extent, but I think there is a limit. New Orleans had a boom around 2010 and I think it may still be going, but to me, it still isn't like New Orleans prekatrina and probably never will be.
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
423392 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 2:01 pm to
i'm not going to say it's "good" or "positive" but infrastructure is one of the easier things to rebuild after devestation. this is more applicable to war, but it somewhat applies here, too

the issue with a lot of the areas affected by this flood is that the areas aren't really highly valued. when you have a bigger city like Nola get destroyed, the rebuilding effort can really remove urban blight and open up the door for gentrification (b/c there is demand for that real estate)
Posted by Grooler
USA
Member since Dec 2009
484 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 2:05 pm to
Any measure of an increase in economic activity needs to be net of the damage caused by the natural disaster. A lot of assets were destroyed, which is not good for the economy.
Posted by Bullfrog
Institutionalized but Unevaluated
Member since Jul 2010
56430 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 2:06 pm to
If flooded, broken or destroyed stuff is good for the economy, let's break the shite out of everything!




No. It's a fallacy. Particular entities might benefit, like furniture dealers but the vanishing wealth reduces prosperity.

ETA: While income may rise in the short run, the wealth base is much lower now and as the short run becomes the long run, you don't catch up.
This post was edited on 8/20/16 at 2:14 pm
Posted by Tigris
Mexican Home
Member since Jul 2005
12371 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 2:46 pm to
For some people it's good, for most it's not. You don't increase the wealth of a nation by destroying property. Only a Keynesian would be goofy enough to think that.
Posted by SabiDojo
Open to any suggestions.
Member since Nov 2010
83953 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 2:47 pm to
Gulfport still hasn't fully recovered from Katrina. It's not even a shell of what it once was.

So, no, not always.
Posted by JKLazurus
Member since Jun 2016
261 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 6:20 pm to
They're beneficial for the state's finances.

Katrina money initiatives are still being funneled through LDH's budget. A lot of the most recent budget problems are the result of increased spending on Medicaid that was from the influx of "one time" Fed money 10 years ago. Now that people have become accustomed to those "optional" programs, the legislature wont cut them, and has been increasingly scrambling for new funding sources.

Before the flood occurred, it was anticipated the legislature would be notified in October that the Healthy Louisiana program is experiencing an unforeseeable shortfall of about a couple hundred million. Fortunately, It appears there will soon be a new "one time" Fed insertion that should ease that pain.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
38927 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 6:28 pm to
destruction of assets is never good for an economy
they can be replaced by new assets but the equity in those assets is gone
sadly, those with full ownership of those destroyed assets will be the worst off
Posted by OweO
Plaquemine, La
Member since Sep 2009
114047 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 6:30 pm to
Its not good for the pockets of the people who lost everything, but it creates work, it brings in people from everywhere, and it gives retail a boost. Its good for the economy temporarily.
Posted by LSU Fan SLU Grad
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2006
4893 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 6:55 pm to
Doesn't the Louisiana government pick up 25% of the FEMA bill?
Posted by TrueTiger
Chicken's most valuable
Member since Sep 2004
68231 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 6:59 pm to
Posted by rilesrick
Member since Mar 2015
6704 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 7:06 pm to
It would be much easier to stomach if more had insurance. Folks will be buying flooring,furniture paying contractors w college funds and rainy day money. That far outweighs the boost to me.
This post was edited on 8/20/16 at 7:07 pm
Posted by stuntman
Florida
Member since Jan 2013
9124 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 7:12 pm to
Do you even Bastiat, bro?
Posted by elprez00
Hammond, LA
Member since Sep 2011
29433 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 7:17 pm to
Typically they are. Louisiana basically avoided the recession because of the amount of Federal dollars flowing in post Katrina.
Posted by The Pirate King
Pangu
Member since May 2014
57826 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 8:13 pm to
Good for the economy in the sense that it rebalances the wealth between laborers and professionals.

You'll have skilled laborers easily clearing 150k+ this year after the boom

It's more of a forced wealth redistribution than anything.

You saw a similar boom after Katrina.
Posted by Scooba
Member since Jun 2013
19999 posts
Posted on 8/20/16 at 8:25 pm to
Depends on how you look at it. Disasters are always great for one side and terrible for the opposite. Look at BP oil spill. Cleanup crews, businesses, oil containment all made thousands/millions. The fisheries industry however was devastated.
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