Politická ekonomie 2025, 73(2) Special Issue I:329-365 | DOI: 10.18267/j.polek.1485
Role of Institutions and Environmental Poverty in Influencing Climate-related Migration
- Prague University of Economics and Business, Faculty of International Relations, Prague, Czech Republic
This study investigates the relationship between natural disasters, institutional factors, environmental poverty and climate-related migration. The analysis focuses on 112 countries, representing 95% of natural disasters globally from 1992 to 2021, using regression models and clustering countries by their vulnerability and resilience. Key findings show that although improved transport infrastructure can aid in recovery, it may also increase exposure to disaster-affected areas, causing higher mortality. At the same time, sanitation availability significantly reduces mortality and migration in affected regions. The study highlights the need for disaster response strategies tailored to countries' vulnerability levels while emphasising the role of institutions in mitigating climate-related migration and enhancing resilience. Policymakers should prioritise investments in resilient infrastructure, strengthen disaster preparedness strategies tailored to each country's vulnerability profile and focus on enhancing personal freedom, institutional trust and governance capacity. These measures can collectively reduce number of refugees, mitigate impacts of disasters and promote long-term stability in high-risk regions.
Keywords: Natural disasters, vulnerability, resilience, institution, environmental poverty, climate- -related migration
JEL classification: F22, O13, Q54
Received: March 20, 2024; Revised: December 26, 2024; Accepted: December 30, 2024; Prepublished online: February 13, 2025; Published: April 29, 2025 Show citation
References
- Abel, G. J., Brottrager, M., Cuaresma, J. C., et al. (2019). Climate, conflict and forced migration. Global Environmental Change, 54, 239-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.12.003
Go to original source...
- Adams, H., Kay, S. (2019). Migration as a human affair: Integrating individual stress thresholds into quantitative models of climate migration. Environmental Science and Policy, 93, 129-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.10.015
Go to original source...
- Akter, M., Cumming, D., Ji, S. (2023). Natural disasters and market manipulation. Journal of Banking & Finance, 153, 106883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2023.106883
Go to original source...
- Arain, F. (2015). Knowledge-based approach for sustainable disaster management: Empowering emergency response management team. Procedia Engineering, 118, 232-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.08.422
Go to original source...
- Arambepola, N., Rahman, M. A., Tawhid, K. (2014). Planning Needs Assessment for Responding to Large Disaster Events in Cities: Case Study from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Procedia Economics and Finance, 18, 684-692. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2212-5671(14)00991-5
Go to original source...
- Aslam, M., Farvaque, E., Malan, F. (2021). A disaster always rings twice: Early life experiences and central bankers' reactions to natural disasters. Kyklos, 74(3), 301-320. https://doi.org/10.1111/kykl.12267
Go to original source...
- Batica, J., Gourbesville, P. (2016). Resilience in flood risk management - a new communication tool. Procedia Engineering, 154, 811-817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.07.411
Go to original source...
- Beine, M., Parsons, C. (2014). Climatic factors as determinants of international migration. The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 117(2), 723-767. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjoe.12098
Go to original source...
- Beine, M., Parsons, C. R. (2017). Climatic factors as determinants of international migration: Redux. CESifo Economic Studies, 63(4), 386-402. https://doi.org/10.1093/cesifo/ifx017
Go to original source...
- Berlemann, M., Eurich, M. (2021). Natural hazard risk and life satisfaction - Empirical evidence for hurricanes. Ecological Economics, 190, 107194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107194
Go to original source...
- Berlemann, M., Steinhardt, M. F. (2017). Climate Change, natural disasters, and Migration-A survey of the Empirical evidence. CESifo Economic Studies, 63(4), 353-385. https://doi.org/10.1093/cesifo/ifx019
Go to original source...
- Biermann, F., Boas, I. (2010). Preparing for a warmer world: Towards a global governance system to protect climate refugees. Global Environmental Politics, 10(1), 60-88. https://doi.org/10.1162/glep.2010.10.1.60
Go to original source...
- Breiling, M. (2021). Global rural value chains and the role of natural disasters in their transformation. Journal of Social and Economic Development, 23(S3), 540-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40847-021-00147-z
Go to original source...
- Briguglio, L., Cordina, G., Farrugia, N., et al. (2009). Economic Vulnerability and Resilience: Concepts and Measurements. Oxford Development Studies, 37(3), 229-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600810903089893
Go to original source...
- Bristow, G., Healy, A. (2020). Introduction to the Handbook on Regional Economic Resilience. In: Bristow, G., Healy, A. Handbook on Regional Economic Resilience, 1-8. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks. ISBN 978-1785360862.
Go to original source...
- Bruneau, M., Chang, S. E., Eguchi, R. T., et al. (2003). A framework to quantitatively assess and enhance the seismic resilience of communities. Earthquake Spectra, 19(4), 733-752. https://doi.org/10.1193/1.1623497
Go to original source...
- Cadaval-Sampedro, M., Herrero-Alcalde, A., Lago-Peñas, S., et al. (2023). Extreme events and the resilience of decentralised governance. Regional Studies, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2255627
Go to original source...
- Cai, R., Feng, S., Oppenheimer, M., et al. (2016). Climate variability and international migration: The importance of the agricultural linkage. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 79, 135-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2016.06.005
Go to original source...
- Christopherson, S., Michie, J., Tyler, P. (2010). Regional resilience: theoretical and empirical perspectives. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 3(1), 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsq004
Go to original source...
- Coniglio, N. D., Pesce, G. (2015). Climate variability and international migration: an empirical analysis. Environment and Development Economics, 20(4), 434-468. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355770x14000722
Go to original source...
- Cottier, F., Flahaux, M., Ribot, J., et al. (2022). Framing the frame: Cause and effect in climate-related migration. World Development, 158, 106016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106016
Go to original source...
- Davlasheridze, M., Miao, Q. (2021). Natural disasters, public housing, and the role of disaster aid. Journal of Regional Science, 61(5), 1113-1135. https://doi.org/10.1111/jors.12534
Go to original source...
- De Lima Medeiros, M., Passador, C. S., Passador, J. L. (2016). Implications of geographical indications: a comprehensive review of papers listed in CAPES' journal database. RAI: Revista De Administração E Inovação, 13(4), 315-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rai.2016.09.002
Go to original source...
- Duenwald, C., Abdih, Y., Gerling, K., et al. (2022). Feeling the heat: Adapting to climate change in the Middle East and Central Asia. Departmental Paper No. 2022: 008. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513591094.087
Go to original source...
- Evgenidis, A., Hamano, M., Vermeulen, W. N. (2021). Economic consequences of follow-up disasters: Lessons from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Energy Economics, 104, 105559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105559
Go to original source...
- FAO (2015). Climate change and food security: risks and responses. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN 978-92-5-108998-9.
- Foster, K. A. (2007). A Case Study Approach to Understanding Regional Resilience. Working Paper No. 2007-08. [Retrieved 2024-01-26] Available at: https://www.econstor.eu/obitstream/10419/59413/1/592535347.pdf
- Gagliardi, N., Arévalo, P., Pamies, S. (2022). The Fiscal Impact of Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Evidence for EU Countries. DISCUSSION PAPER 168. ISBN 978-76-52936-1
- Gröschl, J. K., Steinwachs, T. (2016). Do natural hazards cause international migration? Social Science Research Network. CESifo Working Paper No. 6145.
Go to original source...
- Guareschi, M., Mancini, M. C., Arfini, F. (2023). Geographical Indications, public goods and sustainable development goals: A methodological proposal. Journal of Rural Studies, 103, 103122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103122
Go to original source...
- Gunderson, L. (2000). Ecological Resilience-In theory and application. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 31(1), 425-439. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.425
Go to original source...
- Guo, K., Luan, L., Zhang, D., et al. (2023). Does climate risk affect the performance of companies in China? Applied Economics Letters, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2023.2289899
Go to original source...
- Hallegatte, S. (2014). Economic resilience: Definition and measurement. WB Policy Research Working Paper No. 6852. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-6852
Go to original source...
- Herrera-Almanza, C., Cas, A. (2020). Mitigation of Long-Term Human Capital Losses from Natural Disasters: Evidence from the Philippines. The World Bank Economic Review, 35(2), 436-460. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhaa001
Go to original source...
- Hill, E. W., Wial, H., Wolman, H. (2008). Exploring Regional Economic Resilience. Working Paper No. 2008-04. [Retrieved 2024-01-26] Available at: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/59420/1/592859940.pdf
- Hofmeier, M., Menapace, L., Rahbauer, S. (2023). Adoption of Geographical Indications and Origin-related Food Labels by SMEs - A Systematic Literature Review. Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy, 4, 100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clcb.2023.100041
Go to original source...
- International Organization for Migration (2009). Migration, Environment and Climate Change: Assessing the Evidence. Geneva: International Organization for Migration Publication Platform. ISBN 978-92-9068-454-1.
- Jayawardhan, S. (2017). Vulnerability and climate change induced human displacement. Consilience: Journal of Sustainable Development, 17(1), 103-142. https://doi.org/10.7916/consilience.v0i17.3915
Go to original source...
- Jha, M., Liu, H., Manela, A. (2021). Natural disaster effects on popular sentiment toward finance. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 56(7), 2584-2604. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022109021000466
Go to original source...
- Koubi, V., Spilker, G., Schaffer, L. M., et al. (2016). Environmental Stressors and Migration: Evidence from Vietnam. World Development, 79, 197-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.11.016
Go to original source...
- Laksono, P., Irham, Mulyo, J. H., et al. (2022). Farmers' willingness to adopt geographical indication practice in Indonesia: A psycho-behavioral analysis. Heliyon, 8(8), e10178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10178
Go to original source...
- Legatum Institute (2024). The Legatum Prosperity Index. [Retrieved 2024-08-07] Available at: https://www.prosperity.com/
- Leoni, V., Boto-García, D. (2023). The Effect of Natural Disasters on Hotel Demand, Supply and Labour Markets: Evidence from the La Palma Volcano Eruption. Environmental and Resource Economics, 86(4), 755-780. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-023-00811-4
Go to original source...
- Lindsey, R. (2022). Climate change: global Sea level. [Retrieved 2024-01-26] Available at: https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level
- Luo, Z., Junfeng, M., Abbasi, B. N., et al. (2024). Institutional structure and governance capability in universities: an empirical study from the perspectives of time, space, and quantity dimensions. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03558-5
Go to original source...
- Marchiori, L., Maystadt, J., Schumacher, I. (2012). The impact of weather anomalies on migration in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 63(3), 355-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2012.02.001
Go to original source...
- Marin, G., Modica, M., Paleari, S., et al. (2021). Assessing disaster risk by integrating natural and socio-economic dimensions: A decision-support tool. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 77, 101032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2021.101032
Go to original source...
- Martin-Breen, P., Anderies, J. M. (2011). Resilience: A Literature Review (Draft). Background Paper. The Bellagio Initiative. [Retrieved 2024-01-26] Available at: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/123456789/3692/1/Bellagio-Rockefeller%20bp.pdf
- Martínez-Zarzoso, I., Nowak-Lehmann, F., Paschoaleto, R. D. L. (2023). Climate change, natural disasters, and international migration: A country-level analysis considering climatic zones. Frontiers in Climate, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.986088
Go to original source...
- Mbaye, L. M., Okara, A. (2023). Climate change, natural disasters, and migration. IZA World of Labor, 346. https://doi.org/10.15185/izawol.346
Go to original source...
- McInerney, E., Saxon, J., Laurie, A. (2022). Migration As A Climate Adaptation Strategy: Challenges & Opportunities for USAID Programming. [Retrieved 2024-10-21] Available at: https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2023-01/FTF1537_USAID_Climate%20Migration%20Strategy_012723.pdf
- Methmann, C., Oels, A. (2015). From 'fearing' to 'empowering' climate refugees: Governing climate-induced migration in the name of resilience. Security Dialogue, 46(1), 51-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010614552548
Go to original source...
- Miyazaki, T. (2023). Disaster relief and regional employment: the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Applied Economics Letters, 32(1), 78-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2023.2257025
Go to original source...
- Newman, R., Noy, I. (2023). The global costs of extreme weather that are attributable to climate change. Nature Communications, 14(1), 6103. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41888-1
Go to original source...
- Norris, F. H., Stevens, S., Pfefferbaum, B., et al. (2007). Community Resilience as a metaphor, theory, set of capacities, and strategy for disaster readiness. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41(1-2), 127-150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9156-6
Go to original source...
- North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0511808678.
Go to original source...
- OECD (2013). What does "resilience" mean for donors?: An OECD factsheet. [Retrieved 2024-02-08] Available at: https://www.oecd.org/dac/May%2010%202013%20FINAL%20resilience%20PDF.pdf
- Okubo, T., Strobl, E. (2021). Natural disasters, firm survival, and growth: Evidence from the Ise Bay Typhoon, Japan. Journal of Regional Science, 61(5), 944-970. https://doi.org/10.1111/jors.12523
Go to original source...
- Oliver-Smith, A. (2019). Disasters and forced migration in the 21st century. [Retrieved 2024-02-09] Available at: https://items.ssrc.org/understanding-katrina/disasters-and-forced-migration-in-the-21st-century/
- Paudel, J. (2023). Challenges in water and sanitation services: Do natural disasters make matters worse? Review of Development Economics, 27(4), 2565-2582. https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.13012
Go to original source...
- Rayamajhee, V., March, R. J., Clark, C. C. T. (2023). Shock me like a Hurricane: How Hurricane Katrina changed Louisiana's formal and informal institutions. Journal of Institutional Economics, 20. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1744137423000267
Go to original source...
- Reuveny, R. (2007). Climate change-induced migration and violent conflict. Political Geography, 26(6), 656-673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2007.05.001
Go to original source...
- Sutton, J., Arku, G. (2022). Regional economic resilience: towards a system approach. Regional Studies, Regional Science, 9(1), 497-512. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2022.2092418
Go to original source...
- Tax Foundation (2024). Tariffs Definition: TaxEDU Glossary. [Retrieved 2024-08-02] Available at: https://taxfoundation.org/taxedu/glossary/tariffs/
- Trinh, T., Feeny, S., Posso, A. (2021). The impact of natural disasters on migration: findings from Vietnam. Journal of Demographic Economics, 87(3), 479-510. https://doi.org/10.1017/dem.2020.14
Go to original source...
- UNDRR (2020). Hazard Definition & Classification Review: Technical Report. [Retrieved 2024-01-26] Available at: https://doi.org/10.24948/2020.03
Go to original source...
- UN (2023). COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace. Climate Security Mechanism. [Retrieved 2024-08-15] Available at: https://www.un.org/climatesecuritymechanism/en/essentials/rio-conventions/unfccc/cop28-declaration-climate-relief-recovery-and-peace
- UN (n.d.). Water and Sanitation. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [Retrieved 2024-01-26] Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/topics/water-and-sanitation
- Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., et al. (2004). At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters - by Ben Wisner, Piers Blaikie, Terry Cannon, and Ian Davis. The Geographical Journal, 173(2), 189-190. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4959.2007.00244_3.x
Go to original source...
- WB Group (2023). Refugee population by country or territory of origin. [Retrieved 2024-02-06] Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.REFG.OR
- WB Group (2024a). People using at least basic drinking water services (% of population) (SH.H2O.BASW.ZS). [Retrieved 2024-08-07] Available at: https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators
- WB Group (2024b). People using at least basic sanitation services (% of population) (SH.STA.BASS.ZS). [Retrieved 2024-08-07] Available at: https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators
- WB Group (2024c). Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) (SN.ITK.DEFC.ZS). [Retrieved 2024-08-07] Available at: https://databank.worldbank.org/source/sustainable-development-goals-(sdgs)#
- Zaman, M. O., Raihan, M. M. H. (2023). Community resilience to natural disasters: A systemic review of contemporary methods and theories. Natural Hazards Research, 3(3), 583-594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nhres.2023.05.003
Go to original source...
- Ziyath, A. M., Teo, M., Goonetilleke, A. (2013). Surrogate indicators for assessing community resilience. In: Hall, M., Haigh, R., Ingirige, B., et al. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Building Resilience. Salford: University of Salford, 1-11. [Retrieved 2024-01-26] Available at: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/63404/
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.