Abstract
Implementing strong building codes is touted as a way to reduce natural disaster property damages. However, at the local level not all jurisdictions adopt equally stringent codes nor properly enforce their codes once they have been adopted. We empirically test whether zip code jurisdictions with effective and well-enforced building codes demonstrate better loss experience from the occurrence of a hail storm than those without. We model Missouri hail claim insurance data from 2008 to 2010. Our results consistently indicate that more favorable building codes do in fact matter in reducing hail damage on the order of 10% to 20%. (JEL Q54, Q58)
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