Disasters and social vulnerability determinants of federal subsidiarity assistance

Abstract

Subsidiarity assistance creates opportunities for the federal government to intervene in subnational affairs, supplement emergency response, and reduce jurisdictional vulnerabilities. Recognizing the differential effects that disaster events and revenue sharing could have on states, the research investigates the determinants of federal subsidiarity assistance grants to states in the context of American federalism. This study draws from disaster impact scholarship and social vulnerability theory for theoretical context to understand the determinants of short‐term and long‐term public assistance grants and intergovernmental transfers, which constitute federal subsidiarity assistance to subnational governments. Using panel data on 50 U.S. states over a 17‐year time period, findings show that disasters trigger federal subsidiarity assistance for disaster‐induced short‐term and long‐term public assistance grants; however, social vulnerability more likely explains intergovernmental transfers to states.

Determinants of State Infrastructure Spending: Testing Punctuated Equilibrium and Social Vulnerability Theories

“…Second, a dummy variable is coded 1, and 0 otherwise, if there was an Emergency Disaster Declaration in the state. Rather than use the count of disaster declarations, the binary measures give equal weight to all disaster events and diminish the potential influence of outliers, an approach that is consistent with existing studies (see Ahmadu et al, 2023;Ahmadu & Nukpezah, 2022;Noy, 2009).…”

“…For example, disasters affect total infrastructure spending as well as roads and highways spending, likely because they trigger federal public assistance grants for permanent works and emergency works (Ahmadu et al, 2023). However, disasters do not influence state spending on transit systems, which are affected more by favorable state economic conditions.…”

“…The Extent of Disaster Damage. Disaster events vary in magnitude and can be assessed by the extent of their damage (Ahmadu et al, 2023). Disaster events measured in terms of property damage and agricultural losses adversely impact local consumption and economic activities, which lead to a slump in revenue generation (Ahmadu & Nukpezah, 2022;Xie et al, 2014).…”

“…Socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors such as educational attainment, unemployment, poverty, and income contribute to social vulnerability (Ablah et al, 2009;Cutter et al, 2003). The theoretical assumption of social vulnerability is that jurisdictions that report higher levels of social vulnerability due to the presence of risk factors are less likely to benefit from collective resources, while jurisdictions that report fewer vulnerability factors have a better chance of gaining access to resources (Ahmadu & Nukpezah, 2022;Ahmadu et al, 2023;Cutter et al, 2003;Nukpezah, 2020). Socioeconomic Indicators.…”

Scholarly hypocrisy or apostasy in public administration: Preaching to the choir, or to an empty room?

“…Interestingly, the research of the field succeeds here. Wonderful pieces of research have been published on emergency management and governing in turbulent times (see Ahmadu, Nukpezah, French, & Menifield, 2023; Ansell, Sorensen, & Torfing, 2023; Capano & Toth, 2023). Public Administration Review is now in the concluding phase of a symposium on crisis and emergency management that is slated to appear in our next issue.…”