Orientation: Large-scale events such as disasters, wars and pandemics disrupt the economy by diverging resource allocation, which could alter employment growth within the economy during recovery. Research purpose: The literature on the disaster–economic nexus predominantly considers the aggregate performance of the economy, including the stimulus injection. This research assesses the employment transition following a disaster by removing this stimulus injection and evaluating the economy’s performance during recovery. Motivation for the study: The underlying economy’s performance without the stimulus’ benefit remains primarily unanswered. A single disaster event is used to assess the employment transition to guide future stimulus response for disasters. Research approach/design and method: Canterbury, New Zealand, was affected by a series of earthquakes in 2010–2011 and is used as a single case study. Applying the historical construction–economic relationship, a counterfactual level of economic activity is quantified and compared with official results. Using an input–output model to remove the economy-wide impact from the elevated activity reveals the performance of the underlying economy and employment transition during recovery. Main findings: The results indicate a return to a demand-driven level of building activity 10 years after the disaster. Employment transition is characterised by two distinct periods. The first 5 years are stimulus-driven, while the 5 years that follow are demand-driven from the underlying economy. After the initial period of elevated building activity, construction repositioned to its long-term level near 5% of value add. Practical/managerial implications: The level of building activity could be used to confidently assess the performance of regional economies following a destructive disaster. The study results argue for an incentive to redevelop the affected area as quickly as possible to mitigate the negative effect of the destruction and provide a stimulus for the economy. Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to a growing stream of regional disaster economics research that assesses the economic effect using a single case study.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered outside the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
Members of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) setting up a tent in Latimer Square after their early-morning arrival in Christchurch. Latimer Square was set up as a temporary headquarters for emergency management personnel after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. A tour of the Cathedral was part of FESTA 2013. The tour included a talk by Johnny McFarlane of Beca about project management of transitional architecture.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered outside the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered outside the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of Jonny McFarlane of Beca in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. A tour of the Cathedral was part of FESTA 2013. The tour included a talk by McFarlane about project management of transitional architecture.
A photograph of people gathered outside the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of the inside of the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. A tour of the Cathedral was part of FESTA 2013. The tour included a talk by Johnny McFarlane of Beca about project management of transitional architecture.
A photograph of people gathered outside the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. A tour of the Cathedral was part of FESTA 2013. The tour included a talk by Johnny McFarlane of Beca about project management of transitional architecture.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. Johnny McFarlane of Beca is talking about project management of transitional architecture. The talk was part of a tour of the Cathedral, during FESTA 2013.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. A tour of the Cathedral was part of FESTA 2013. The tour included a talk by Johnny McFarlane of Beca about project management of transitional architecture.
A photograph of people gathered in the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, otherwise known as the Cardboard Cathedral. A tour of the Cathedral was part of FESTA 2013. The tour included a talk by Johnny McFarlane of Beca about project management of transitional architecture.
A story submitted by Peter Seager to the QuakeStories website.
A story submitted by Jennifer to the QuakeStories website.
A sign at ground level on a coal bunker in the University of Canterbury's Facilities Management yard reads "Squawk. Quack quack squawk. Quack quack quack quack quack. Danger. Health and safety risk. No ducklings past this point." The photographer comments, "Sign on the coal bunker at the boiler house, FM".
Transcript of Kirstin Golding's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Mark Darbyshire's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Lavina's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
Transcript of Stephen Bourke's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.