Macroeconomic impacts of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti

Rohan Best, Paul Burke

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    Abstract

    In this paper, we use the synthetic control method to estimate the macroeconomic losses from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, one of the most severe natural disasters in the modern era. The macroeconomic effects of the earthquake were equal to an average loss of up to 12% of gross domestic product over the period 2010-2015. While surges in imports and foreign aid supported a temporary increase in aggregate consumption, aggregate investment and services sector output experienced large contractions. The road transport sector was severely affected. Impacts on electricity use have been less pronounced. The data suggest that macroeconomic losses may be permanent. The earthquake is thus a case of an extreme natural disaster contributing to divergence in development outcomes.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1647-1681
    JournalEmpirical Economics
    Volume56
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

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