Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze some of the unseen negative effects of the post‐Katrina government policies dealing with housing in New Orleans. Design/methodology/approach – Since Hurricane Katrina, the government, along with private for profit and not‐for‐profit...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the rebuilding of the Gulf coast post‐Hurricane Katrina. Design/methodology/approach – The paper posits that though Frédéric Bastiat passed away in 1850, the beauty of his sound economic reasoning is that it does not change over time and...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect the rebuilding of the casino industry has had on the recovery efforts from Katrina. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses quarterly data from four states affected by Katrina, and a simple OLS model to test the effect the...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the stated goals of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and then demonstrate that in practice those goals have not been achieved, and at significant cost to US taxpayers. Design/methodology/approach – The objectives are achieved by...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the havoc created by Hurricane Katrina from the viewpoint of Austrian Economics. The aim is to look specifically at the malinvested capital that came about because of the construction of the complex levee system around New Orleans....

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discover the causes of the devastation of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast and how it may be ameliorated. Design/methodology/approach – Economic analysis of the prior conditions causing susceptibility to flooding, and of the subsequent...

Purpose – The wake of a natural disaster is a tumultuous setting. Resources are scarce, actions are quick, and emotions are high. Social commentators have often brought complaints against capitalism for promoting greed and selfishness during and after natural catastrophes. Most recently...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper aims to explore the reports of housing shortages in post‐Katrina New Orleans especially for low‐income residents in the face of a returning working poor population. Despite the availability of housing vouchers by the New Orleans Housing Authority to any...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role private action has played in overcoming the collective action problem posed by Hurricane Katrina. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses the post‐Hurricane Katrina situation with regard to commercial and civil society....

Purpose – The paper aims to discuss bureaucratic management, over‐confidence in scientific theory, information distortion and lack of coordination with particular focus on the post‐Hurricane Katrina situation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines efficiency arguments for...