Governing Disasters

Reviews / Votes

'. . . it is a valuable source of references to the literature for those who wish to learn more about this specific sub-field of risk research. Each of the chapters, from a different disciplinary perspective, ends with a bibliography and identifies a number of themes about the nature of emergency risk regulation. The book should be a valuable source of information and references for regulators, the regulated, and scholars in a wide range of disciplines such as law, economics, risk analysis, management, political science and sociology as it provides an original perspective on emergency risk regulation.' -- Tatjana Jovanic, European Journal of Risk Regulation 'The challenges posed by risky decisions are well documented. These decisions become even more daunting when they must be made in a midst of a crisis. Using the European volcanic risk crisis as the principal case study, Alberto Alemanno and the other contributors to this thought provoking volume derive valuable lessons for how policy makers can cope with the attendant time pressures, uncertainties, coordination issues, and risk communication problems. Once the next emergency risk situation occurs, it may be too late to learn about how to respond. Governing Disasters should be required reading for all policy makers and risk analysts in advance of the next international risk crisis.' -- W. Kip Viscusi, Vanderbilt University, US and Editor, Journal of Risk and Uncertainty 'Catastrophes present us with a paradox. Many people don't think they will happen, so before a catastrophe, regulations are typically viewed as unnecessarily invasive. But in the aftermath of a disaster everybody suddenly blames the government for not having been strict enough. Overregulation often follows. In light of the unprecedented series of catastrophes in recent years, more than ever, top leaders in government and business must understand and overcome this regulatory challenge. Alberto Alemanno's innovative book tells you how.' -- Erwann Michel-Kerjan, The Wharton School's Center for Risk Management, US 'Even the best-laid policy plans go awry. What do we do when, despite our best preventive efforts, a surprise crisis occurs? How do we regulate a disaster while it is unfolding? From volcanoes to tornadoes, and tsunamis to terrorists, extreme events test our resilience. In this illuminating volume, regulatory scholar Alberto Alemanno and his colleagues diagnose the complex combination of natural disasters and flawed institutions that make these crises so difficult to manage. They offer a set of insights and remedies that must be read by anyone concerned to deal with disasters in the future.' -- Jonathan B. Wiener, Duke University, US