Cities and the sea level

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2024.103685
• Publication Date: 2024-08-01T13:12:43Z
• Authors: Yatang Lin; Thomas K.J. McDer...; Guy Michaels
• Keywords: SAFER; Stock (firearms); Urban agglomeration; Coastal flood; Merge (version control)

Construction on low elevation coastal zones is risky for both residents and taxpayers who bail them out. To investigate this construction, we analyze spatially disaggregated data covering the entire US Atlantic Gulf coasts. We find that 1990 housing stock reflects historical avoidance of locations prone to sea level rise (SLR) flooding, but net new construction from 1990–2010 was similar in SLR-prone safer ones; within densely built areas, higher locations. These findings are difficult rationalize as mere products moral hazard or imperfect information, suggesting people build benefit nearby urban agglomerations. explain our findings, develop a simple model monocentric city, which use explore consequences rise. This helps cities' role expanding flood risks, how future may reshape cities, creating significant challenges policymakers.