Issue Briefs
Countering
the threat of nuclear terrorism
A U.S. law, “Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007,” requires that all cargo bound for the U.S. must be scanned by non-intrusive technology to detect radiological contraband before the cargo is loaded onto a ship at an international port. The operational feasibility of 100-percent scanning has been questioned by many government officials and private sector professionals involved with managing supply chains. Our study compares the operational feasibility of two types of inspection protocols designed to detect the presence of nuclear devices... >> more
Who pays
and who benefits most from NFIP flood insurance?
Our analysis of the entire NFIP portfolio between 1978 and 2008 reveals that in some states, policyholders have paid as much as 15 times in premiums as they have collected in claims; in other states, policyholders have received 5 times more in insurance claims than they paid in premiums over this period...>> more
How long do homeowners keep their flood insurance coverage?
Many people who live in flood-prone areas had not purchased flood insurance or had let their policies lapse. The average tenure of flood insurance in the U.S. is between 2 and 4 years… >> more
The Psychology of Natural Hazards
Why do few people in catastrophe-prone areas invest in risk reduction measures?
Long‐term sustainable solutions can overcome myopic thinking and provide economic incentives for encouraging sound investments in risk reduction measures... >> more
Can property insurance companies in hurricane-prone areas sustain their operations?
The cost and availability of property insurance is becoming a significant problem for some residents in high-risk coastal areas of the United States... >> more
