Coping with Seismic Vulnerability

Small Manufacturing Firms in Western Athens

Bibliographic Data

ID5153373
AuthorsKalliopi Sapountzaki (0000-0002-5408-8955, Harokopio University of Athens, corresponding author)
Year2005
Volume29
Issue2
Pages195-212
Publication date2005-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisasters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0361-3666 • E-ISSN: 1467-7717
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.0361-3666.2005.00280.x
PMID15910649
OpenAlexW2120570708
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited8

This paper attempts to contribute to international discourse on the responsibility of macro structures (economic and political) and private agencies for the production and distribution of vulnerability. It does so by focusing on an individual economic entity, small manufacturing firms (SMFs), in a specific location, western Athens, Greece. By evaluating the losses that SMFs sustained in the earthquake of 7 September 1999, the paper points to variations in vulnerability levels among such firms and highlights the 'sources' of vulnerability they confront. Furthermore, the SMF recovery cycle is systematically monitored in parallel with relevant public policies and state reactions to private recovery methods. The analysis illustrates processes that externalise recovery costs, alter the relationship between physical and socio-economic vulnerability and shift the vulnerability load from macro structures to individual agencies or vice versa. It is based on two methodological approaches: the division of vulnerability into three constituent components (exposure, resistance and resilience); and the conceptual split between producers and carriers of vulnerability

Business · Computer security · Coping (psychology · Macro · Political science · Politics · Psychological resilience · Resilience (materials science · Vulnerability (computing · Vulnerability assessment · Computer Science · Law · Psychology · Regional resilience and development · Social Psychology