NIMBY or YIMBY? Municipalities' reaction to disaster waste from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of transfer of waste between the affected areas and other municipalities that resulted from the Great East Japan Earthquake. In particular, we investigate to what extent economic factors, but also social factors such as reciprocity and pro-social concerns, affect municipalities’ decision to accept disaster waste. We find some evidence that economic factors affect the decision, but the main factors that explain the decision are related to concerns about radiation and social concerns about the affected area. Our results suggest that it is primarily social concerns, both about the own municipality but also about the affected municipalities that explain behavior.