An economic analysis of flooding in the Caribbean: The case of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Flooding as an extreme event has become progressively evident in the Caribbean sub-region, as a result of an increased number of intense rainfall events, and storm surges from hurricanes. Such events in turn, have been linked to the impacts of global climate change, which has been shown to be the cause for several specific events including sea-level rise; global temperature rise, ocean warming and acidification, and the melting of glaciers. In the specific instance of the Caribbean subregion, flooding events often result in significant disruptions of economic and social life. This study uses a case-study approach of selected areas in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica to investigate the potential economic impacts of recurrent flood events and compare with a potential cost saving benefit of specific flood control interventions.