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Do Natural Disasters Stimulate Individual Saving? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in a Highly Developed Country

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  • Berlemann, Michael

    (Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg)

  • Steinhardt, Max F.

    (Free University of Berlin)

  • Tutt, Jascha

    (Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg)

Abstract

While various empirical studies have found negative growth-effects of natural disasters, little is yet known about the microeconomic channels through which disasters might affect short- and especially long-term growth. This paper contributes to filling this gap in the literature by studying how natural disasters affect individual saving decisions. This study makes use of a natural experiment created by the European Flood of August 2002. Using micro data from the German Socio-Economic Panel that we combine with geographic flood data, we compare the savings behavior of affected and non-affected individuals by using a difference-in-differences approach. Our empirical results indicate that natural disasters depress individual saving decisions, which might be the consequence of a Samaritan's Dilemma.

Suggested Citation

  • Berlemann, Michael & Steinhardt, Max F. & Tutt, Jascha, 2015. "Do Natural Disasters Stimulate Individual Saving? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in a Highly Developed Country," IZA Discussion Papers 9026, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9026
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    Cited by:

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    2. NguyenHuu, Tam, 2022. "The impacts of rare disasters on asset returns and risk premiums in advanced economies (1870–2015)," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    3. Kevin Luo & Tomoko Kinugasa, 2018. "Do natural disasters influence long-term saving?: Assessing the impact of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake on household saving rates using synthetic control," Discussion Papers 1804, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University.
    4. Michael Berlemann & Joel Methorst & Marcel Thum, 2022. "20 Jahre nach dem großen Hochwasser – Gefährdete Gemeinden für Einwohner attraktiver," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 29(04), pages 03-06, August.
    5. Michael Berlemann & Thi Xuyen Tran, 2021. "Tropical Storms and Temporary Migration in Vietnam," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 47(4), pages 1107-1142, December.
    6. Becchetti, Leonardo & Castriota, Stefano & Conzo, Pierluigi, 2017. "Disaster, Aid, and Preferences: The Long-run Impact of the Tsunami on Giving in Sri Lanka," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 157-173.
    7. Mirpourian, Mehrdad, 2020. "A Gendered Look at Savings Behavior among Nigerian Microsavers," MPRA Paper 103062, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Michael Berlemann & Daniela Wenzel, 2018. "Precipitation and Economic Growth," CESifo Working Paper Series 7258, CESifo.
    9. Tian Xiong & Kaan Celebi & Paul J. J. Welfens, 2022. "OECD countries’ twin long-run challenge: The impact of aging dynamics and increasing natural disasters on savings ratios," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 741-759, October.
    10. Berlemann, Michael & Wenzel, Daniela, 2018. "Hurricanes, economic growth and transmission channels," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 231-247.
    11. Berlemann, Michael, 2016. "Does hurricane risk affect individual well-being? Empirical evidence on the indirect effects of natural disasters," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 99-113.
    12. Mensah, Edouard R. & Filipski, Mateusz J., 2022. "Saving for a rainy day: the impact of natural disasters on savings rates," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322266, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    13. Mirpourian, Mehrdad, 2020. "A Gendered Look at Savings Behavior among Nigerian Microsavers," MPRA Paper 103221, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Berlemann, Michael & Methorst, Joel & Thum, Marcel, 2023. "Do floods scare off residents?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    15. Michael Berlemann & Max Friedrich Steinhardt, 2017. "Climate Change, Natural Disasters, and Migration—a Survey of the Empirical Evidence," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 63(4), pages 353-385.
    16. Kourtit, Karima & Nijkamp, Peter & Banica, Alexandru, 2023. "An analysis of natural disasters’ effects – A global comparative study of ‘Blessing in Disguise’," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    17. Mahdi Moudi & Shiyu Yan & Bahador Bahramimianrood & Xiaoping Li & Liming Yao, 2019. "Statistical model for earthquake economic loss estimation using GDP and DPI: a case study from Iran," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 583-598, March.
    18. Kucuk, Merve & Ulubasoglu, Mehmet & Vu, Ha, 2024. "Stormy Futures? The Impact of Climatic Shocks on Retirement Savings," MPRA Paper 121241, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Michael Berlemann & Daniela Wenzel, 2016. "Hurricanes, Economic Growth and Transmission Channels - Empirical Evidence for Developed and Underdeveloped Countries," CESifo Working Paper Series 6041, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    natural disasters; floods; growth; saving behavior; difference-in-differences approach;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • H84 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Disaster Aid

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