Distributional impacts of climate change and disasters : concepts and cases /

While significant research has been done to date to determine the aggregate effects of climate change, little has been done to consider the disaggregated impacts across countries and demographics. This volume, edited by academic economists Ruth and Ibarraran, represents a significant step forward in recognizing that climate change will impact different people and societies in different ways, and in ways that may be highly inequitable. After an initial discussion of the general concepts of societal vulnerability and disproportionate impacts of climate change, the text focuses on case studies of gender, age, income, and health impacts of climate change from around the world. Of particular note is that while many of the case studies reflect general equilibrium analyses (including one on distribution of income), the material is presented here in a decidedly nontechnical fashion, focusing instead on the results. Attention is also given to policy implications of the disproportionate impacts described. Readers who want more than just the results will find themselves perusing the copious reference lists for each section. The interdisciplinary nature of these essays makes this volume highly accessible and worthwhile for economics as well as environmental studies courses. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate, research, and professional collections. B. J. Peterson Central College