Evaluating the impacts of sea level rise on migration and wellbeing in coastal communities
Summary
This project evaluates the interactions between flooding, migration, and psychosocial health in coastal communities in the US, with a particular focus on the impacts of frequent, smaller floods caused by rising sea levels. Drawing on a combination of large-scale administrative records and a detailed representative household survey, I will quantify the relationship between residential migration and flood experience, examine how health, economic resources, and flood exposure interact to shape migration intentions, and evaluate the health and economic wellbeing of current residents of and recent out- migrants from areas exposed to sea level rise. The outcomes of this research will generate new empirical evidence on the impacts of coastal flooding on migration and psychosocial health and will enable the development of public policies and programs that address both chronic stresses imposed by rising sea levels and extreme events to better support communities at risk.