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Overcoming obstacles to implementation: addressing political, institutional and behavioral problems in earthquake hazard mitigation policies

Daniel J. Alesch¹ and William J. Petak²

1. Department of Public and Environmental Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 54311, USA
2. School of Policy, Planning and Development, University of Southern California, 650 Childs Way, Room 201e, Los Angeles, California, 90089-0626, USA

Abstract: This project is aimed at bridging the three planes, from basic research, through enabling processes, to engineered systems. At the basic research plane, we have been working to improve our collective understanding about obstacles to implementing mitigation practices, owner decision processes (in connection with other MCEER projects), and public policy processes. At the level of enabling processes, we have been seeking to develop an understanding of how obstacles to greater mitigation can be overcome by improved policy design and processes. At the engineered systems plane, our work is intended to result in practical guidelines for devising policies and programs with appropriate motivation and incentives for implementing policies and programs once adopted. This phase of the research has been aimed, first, at a thorough, multidisciplinary review of the literature concerning obstacles to implementation. Second, the research has focused on advancing the state of the art by developing means for integrating the insights offered by diverse perspectives on the implementation process from the several social, behavioral, and decision sciences. The research establishes a basis for testing our understanding of these processes in the case of hospital retrofit decisions.

Keywords: earthquake mitigation; earthquake mitigation policies; earthquake losses