Portland Public Library

Fragile futures, the uncertain economics of disasters, pandemics, and climate change, Vito Tanzi, Independent Scholar

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages [220]-227) and index (pages [228]-239)

index present

non fiction

Fragile futures

bibliography

1282632673

Vito Tanzi, Independent Scholar

the uncertain economics of disasters, pandemics, and climate change

This book revisits a distinction introduced in 1921 by economists Frank Knight and John Maynard Keynes: that between statistically predictable future events ('risks') and statistically unpredictable, uncertain events ('uncertainties'). Governments have generally ignored the latter, perceiving phenomena such as pandemics, natural disasters and climate change as uncontrollable Acts of God. As a result, there has been little if any preparation for future catastrophes. Our modern society is more interconnected and more globalized than ever. Dealing with uncertain future events requires a stronger and more globally coordinated government response. This book suggests a larger, more global government role in dealing with these disasters and keeping economic inequalities low. Major institutional changes, such as regulating the private sector for the common good and dealing with special harms, risks and crises, especially those concerning climate change and pandemics, are necessary in order to achieve any semblance of future progress for humankind--Back cover

Uncertain Future Events and Reactions to Them. Introduction -- Risky versus uncertain events -- Taxonomy of disasters -- Democracy, capitalism, and random events -- Pandemics and Other Disasters. Pandemics, plagues, and epidemics -- Famines -- Nature disasters -- Atomic disasters -- Industrial disasters -- Guiding economic principles for disasters -- Climate Change and Global Warming. When the Earth became man's private property -- Early concerns about the environment -- From environmental concerns to climate change -- From climate change to global warming -- Back to Some Theoretical Issues. Human needs and economic theory -- Concluding thoughts

Uncertain economics of disasters, pandemics, and climate change