Inequality in government agency response to natural disasters
Based on Anderson, S.E., Plantinga, A., and Wibbenmeyer, M., Inequality in Agency Response: Evidence from Salient Wildfire Events. The Journal of Politics. 2023 85:2, 625-639. https://doi.org/10.1086/722044.
Wealthier, more educated, and whiter communities receive more investments by government agencies after wildfires.
The Policy Problem
As the climate crisis intensifies, government agencies will need to make more and more tough decisions about where and when to prioritize scarce resources to adapt to and mitigate natural disasters. These decisions aren’t just based on community needs. There are several other factors– including agency delegated authority, the current political landscape, public input, and the agency’s own preferences– that shape agency decision making. Faced with these competing pressures, do government agencies prioritize reducing public harm, or do their actions and investments perpetuate inequality? This question is particularly important in the context of wildfire management, including fuel reduction projects like thinning existing vegetation or removing dead wood. Do government agencies allocate fuel reduction resources equitably in response to risks to communities?
Key Findings and Proposed Solutions
Government agencies can contribute to inequitable policy outcomes as more public goods and services are allocated to wealthier communities.
Following wildfires, government agencies are more likely to implement fuel reduction projects near communities with a higher percentage of high-income, high-education, and white residents.
Wealthier communities have more political power and thus a greater ability to impose costs on the government if their demands are not met. This leads to an unequal distribution of resources to communities following natural disasters.