Why do municipalities accept disaster waste? Evidence from the great east Japan earthquake

Municipalities’ cooperation is critical for successful policy interventions for disaster recovery. Using a spatial econometric model, we investigate what factors affected municipalities’ decision to accept disaster waste following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. We find evidence that economic factors affect the decision, but that concerns about the radiation risk and social preferences regarding the affected area also contribute to municipalities’ willingness to accept waste. Our results suggest that social concerns play an important role in understanding municipalities’ behavior in emergency circumstances.