Economic activity tends to return to flood-prone areas after floods rather than relocating to higher ground. What?s more, cities built in flood-prone areas are locking in exposure to flood risk for the long term. These are among the findings of research by Guy Michaels and colleagues, which investigates why so many cities are hit by floods year after year. The misery that floods have been inflicting on UK residents in recent weeks is part of a major global problem, the study shows: over the past 30 years, floods worldwide have killed more than 500,000 people and displaced over 650 million people. Yet despite their exposure to flooding, low elevation urban areas continue to concentrate a high density of economic activity.

---

22 February 2016     Paper Number CEPCP463

Download PDF - Flooded cities

This CentrePiece article is published under the centre's Labour programme, Trade programme.