Description/Abstract
This paper employs panel vector autoregression to examine the dynamic fiscal response to disaster shocks. With 50-state, 1970-2013 panel data of state government finance and disaster damage, we estimate disaster impacts on revenue, expenditure, debt issuance, and intergovernmental transfers. We find that following a disaster, states increase program expenditure, but receive more federal transfers. Disasters have limited impact on total tax revenues but amplify fluctuations in sales, income, and property tax revenues. Our findings suggest that disaster-induced additional spending is largely financed through federal transfers, which include not only disaster relief funds but also non-disaster-related public welfare aids.
Document Type
Working Paper
Date
Fall 12-2016
Keywords
Natural Disaster, Panel Vector Autoregression, Intergovernmental Transfer
Language
English
Series
Working Papers Series
Disciplines
Economics | Emergency and Disaster Management | Income Distribution | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
ISSN
1525-3066
Recommended Citation
Miao, Qing; Hou, Yilin; and Abrigo, Michael, "Measuring the Financial Shocks of Natural Disasters: A Panel Study of U.S. States" (2016). Center for Policy Research. 232.
https://surface.syr.edu/cpr/232
Accessible PDF version
Source
Local input
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Additional Information
Working paper no. 199