Information/communication technology and natural disaster vulnerability

Over the last several decades the world has experienced a revolution in information and communication technologies (ICT). Improved communications has transformed societies, and as we show in this study, has also served to reduce natural disaster vulnerability. Using cross-country data over the 1980-2013 period to estimate the relationship between ICT and disaster fatalities, our estimates indicate that as ICT access improves countries experience fewer disaster-induced fatalities.