32nd Annual Student Research Conference
The Effects of Hurricane Katrina on Income Growth Rates in Louisiana
Austin R. Koster
Dr. Terry Olson, Faculty Mentor
Although there’s a plethora of information about the damages caused by tropical storms, there’s significantly less (data) examining the growth rate impacts on local economies that are affected. This project examines the literature surrounding economic growth rates and hurricanes and then examines the relationship using an empirical regression model based off of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the impacts on the growth rates of local counties. My model predicts that for an increase in one 6-hour increment that a hurricane was in a county, the growth rate in 2006 (the year after the hurricane) will increase by 5.043%. This signals the effect of an extreme rebuilding effort. Further research needs to be conducted to improve my regression model and add other variables of interest such as migration movements.
Keywords: Hurricanes, Income Growth Rates, Natural Disasters, Katrina, Hurricane Katrina, Economic Growth
Topic(s):Economics
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 310-4
Location: MC 211
Time: 2:15