Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Department

Economics

Reader 1

Nicholas Kacher

Reader 2

Sean Flynn

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Abstract

This research explores the aftermath of the March 2011 Tōhoku Tsunami and Earthquake on Japan's industrial production. The disaster, marked by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, a devastating tsunami, and a nuclear incident, resulted in substantial economic losses and human casualties. Focusing on the months following the event, the research employs Difference-in-Differences regressions on two separate time frames: one spanning from 1978 to 2022 and the other from 2008 to 2014 to assess the resilience of Japan's production of various goods. The study defines resilience by considering both the initial shock and the duration required for a return to regular production patterns. Findings for the time frame of 1978 to 2022 reveal initial significant negative shocks on consumer goods, but normalized production patterns by April 2011. Regressions conducted in a more concentrated time frame (2008-2014) depict significant impacts on consumer goods' production values in March and April, emphasizing pronounced effects during this period. The analysis provides insights into economic structures' robustness and sector-specific vulnerabilities, offering valuable lessons for nations facing similar challenges. Leveraging government data and addressing a research gap, the study contributes to understanding nationwide impacts of natural disasters on production chains.

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