Advances in Spatial and Economic Modeling of Disaster Impacts: Introduction

Abstract

This chapter introduces the book, Advances in Spatial and Economic Modeling of Disaster Impacts, summarizes the individual chapters, and discusses further issues of such modeling theory and practice. The book is divided into three parts. The first part addresses the conceptual and broader issues of disaster modeling, offering insights for better understanding of disaster characteristics, with the aim of improving the theoretical representations and interpretations of disasters in quantitative analysis. The second part presents a series of advances in the state-of-the-art modeling frameworks using Computable General Equilibrium (CGE), Input-Output (I-O), integrated, and other economic models. The third part illustrates the use of disaster modeling in the decision-making process for recovery and reconstruction after a disaster, as well as for strategies to reduce risk from future disasters. This chapter concludes with a discussion of priorities for future research, including distributional impacts, integration with financial models, and long-run sustainability after a disaster.