De Oliveira, Victor Hugo, Santos de França, João Mário, and Martins, Francisco Mário Viana
Subjects
*NATURAL disasters, *DROUGHTS, *MUNICIPAL water supply, *FLOODS, *RATE of return
Abstract
Using data from the Damage Assessment Reports from the Civil Defence, the current study investigates the relationship between the damage caused by natural disasters and local development at the municipality level in Ceará state, Brazil. The results show that a better urban and water supply infrastructure, a lower population density, and a higher proportion of own revenues relative to total revenues are associated with smaller disaster damage. However, economic development in terms of GDP per capita exhibits a convex relationship with the impact of natural disasters across municipalities, reflecting the potential decreasing returns of preventive investments due to the highly hazardous environment that involves municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ECONOMIC structure, POLITICAL systems, ECONOMIC development, POVERTY reduction
Abstract
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are unlikely to be achieved by 2015, owing to conceptual flaws in their design as well as the structural and political constraints faced during implementation at the country level. While criticism of the MDGs is widespread, innovative ideas on addressing these operational challenges are still scanty. By reviewing a number of experiences, including those of the Foundation for the Promotion of Local Development (PRODEL) in Nicaragua and the Ministry of Cities in Brazil, this article highlights the importance of incorporating an asset-accumulation perspective into MDG-related policies and programmes as a way of generating an enabling environment that opens up new opportunities for poverty reduction in the cities of low- and middle-low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]