Financial Management of Earthquake Risk

Book excerpt: This white paper provides an overview of the following: 1) how financial risk is managed in the residential, commercial, small business, lifelines and government sectors; 2) how risk can be reduced, transferred or avoided through the use of insurance, mortgages and capital market instruments; and 3) how earthquake engineering expertise fits into this process. The discussion should be useful for the following audiences: 1) engineering students and faculty in understanding different career options that use engineering knowledge; 2) practicing engineers in understanding how the information they provide to various clients is part of the larger process of financial risk management; and 3) financial managers in gaining a better understanding of how the financial and earthquake engineering communities are interrelated.