ABSTRACT
Disasters can be naturally induced or result from human actions, but under what circumstances might the latter be more damaging and why? What can be done to build community resilience to disasters? This chapter compares the economic effects of coups d'état with those of cyclones and droughts in Fiji to gauge the differing impact of human-made versus natural disasters, and the lessons for disaster relief and resilience-building emanating from the above. Our analysis using annual data from 1970 to 2009 shows that coups and cyclones have caused nearly the same level of losses in gross domestic product (GDP) in their immediate aftermath, but that the impact of the former lingers for years afterwards while that of the latter is not evident a year after the disaster. Investments in private dwelling construction rise in the year following a cyclone. In contrast, construction activity has remained subdued for decades following each of the four military coups, which occurred in 1987 (twice), 2000 and 2006.
