sinjun | (no subject)

(no subject)

On term paper topics ...

Assume that global warming is impacting our storms, so that we have either more hurricane type storms or more intense ones over time. There is some evidence to this effect, so it's not an outrageous assumption.

So, if this is true .. what would be the impact on the global economy? Both short and long term. I mean, there's obviously horrible personal implications for thousands or millions of people who lose loved ones and/or everything they own. But in an academic sense, what about the economics? What happens to insurance rates world wide? To the price of lumber and other building materials? Are there any innovations likely to come out of it at all? Katrina started me thinking about this, to be honest, and my prof has agreed that in general it's a good topic to work on.

So, need to get some research done and start figuring out a hypothesis.

Any thoughts or ideas out there?

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The only reason I haven't weighed in, really, is because I've -heard- numbers (read: haven't researched to check validity myself) that the worst storms on record happened in the 19th century and very, very early 20th.. and as a result I'm not entirely sure how global warming enters the equation..

There've also been historical anecdotes about the Spanish coming across real bad ones in the 18th century..

That sort of kills things right there for me, and makes it a little difficult to get around to asking the questions you have. :)

*snugs*

See, from the academic perspective, it doesn't matter really if the assumption of the global warming and storms is true or not. The paper is about the Economics that would ensue, if that assumption is correct...

so I can start from that assumption and go from there. If it turns out the assumption is wrong - eh, no biggie. But my research won't be really on global warming or proving that storms are getting more frequent/more intense.

From that approach, pretty interesting. :)

Comes in with the whole 'rebuilding brings money, jobs, infrastructure and some semblance of stability'. More money that gets tossed into the general fund in the form of goods/services/taxes.. Now, it could be argued that tax collection either benefits the public, or doesn't.. and if tax money actually does anything active as a return after a natural disaster..

Side note.. I am so happy I'm not in school anymore. :)

*laughs*

Yeah, well, I got a note back from the prof saying that the general topic is okay. So, you know ... I just find it an interesting theoretical sort of thing at the moment.

And hey, I have only 19 months to go...

I'll start a calendar, ticking off the months.
But it is a neat study. I'll agree! :)

Yeah, it is interesting. And that's good, cause it means I might actually be motivated to get it done before the last minute. ;)

*grinsnugs about the calendar* Just wait until it gets down into days...

Depending on where those storms will hit, certain things would probably be more expensive, and in higher demand than the supply allows, I guess?

I mean, if the storms hit areas that are some of the worlds biggest producers of things, it'll be bad news, economically speaking?

Yes, that's one thing. A short term effect, economically speaking, but definitely valid. :)

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