Public opinion on government performance after a natural disaster: Some reflections on Latin America

Authors

  • Andrés A. Acuña Duarte Universidad del Bío-Bío

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22320/hem.v20i2.5177

Keywords:

natural disasters, government performance, public opinion, Latin America

Abstract

This essay uses the EM-DAT database and individual-level data from AmericasBarometer survey to characterize the citizen assessment on government performance after a natural disaster in Latin America. The analysis shows that the death toll and damages due to natural disasters occurred in the last six decades have been mainly provoked by earthquakes, floods, droughts, and hurricanes. In turn, the likelihood of vulnerability in the aftermath of natural disasters is higher than 60%, exhibits a downward trend, and is heterogenous among Latin American countries. Finally, Latin American public opinion assigns itself a larger responsibility regarding government for the occurrence of climatological- and hydrological-related disasters.

Author Biography

Andrés A. Acuña Duarte, Universidad del Bío-Bío

Grupo de investigación 2130483 GI/EF
Departamento de Economía y Finanzas
Universidad del Bío-Bío
Avenida Collao 1202, Casilla 5-C, Concepción, Chile

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Published

2022-01-14

Issue

Section

Ensayos