Time Lag between Economic Development and Flood Fatality

Economic development allows a country to better manage and mitigate the risk from disasters. This paper presents a case study aimed at clarifying the relationship between economic development and flood fatality change. The focus is the largest city of China-Chongqing City that is located in Southwest China. The economy of the city jump-started in 1998 since it was raised to be one of the four municipalities under direct control of China’s central government. By analyzing various data for the 10-year period after its takeoff, it was found that although economic development allows a region to better manage and mitigate the risk from disasters in theory, the flood fatality reduction may not be realized immediately. There was at least a 10-year time lag between economic growth and flood fatality reduction in Chongqing. The high investment in water-related infrastructures along large rivers owing to economic growth was offset by irrational urban development along tributaries.