A workshop entitled "Economic and Welfare Impacts of Disasters in East Asia and Policy Responses" was held on December 19 and 20, 2011, at ERIA's office in Jakarta, with 16 Working Group (WG) members from ASEAN and East Asia member states.

The objectives of this workshop were to address the impacts of disasters on East Asian economies, including production, demand, and welfare (income, consumption, health, education, and poverty), and to draw economic policy implications at national and regional level.

During the meeting, the WG members reviewed the hazard profiles of their respective countries, discussed theoretical frameworks, methodology and data requirements, and presented their initial analysis of the impacts of disasters on each country's economy. They also highlighted issues of particular importance to their country and region.

The results of the study are expected to provide a better understanding of the economic and welfare impacts of disasters in the region, and to identify economic policy implications for each country, as well as recommendations for forging a framework for regional cooperation in the search for innovative means of disaster risk management. WG members decided to disseminate their final report and present the results of their work at the next workshop, which will be held from April 23 and 24, 2012.

ERIA Workshop on Economic Impacts of Disasters Held to Forge a Framework for Regional Cooperation.pdf