Republican homeowners in Florida are way less likely to hurricane-proof their houses than Democrats, even in the same high-risk zones.
We usually think of political tribalism affecting abstract beliefs like climate change, but this shows it influences physical survival investments. Even after controlling for income and property value, political identity prevents people from installing proven safety measures like storm shutters to protect their most valuable asset.
Political Orientation and Household Climate Adaptation: Evidence from Building Permits
SSRN · 6325958
I study how political orientation affects households' decisions to invest in climate adaptation. I focus on adaptation to wind-related risk in Florida, arising from hurricane exposure. Hurricanes are the most severe and costly weather hazard in the state, which directly impacts the value of many households' most important asset, their houses, and to which households can adapt by investing in provably effective measures such as impact-resistant windows, storm shutters, and structural reinforcemen