Diferenciación espacial en la cobertura de seguros contra inundaciones en los municipios del litoral mediterráneo español

Resumen

It is often believed that consumer speding on home insurance policies against natural disasters is logically determined by the perceived exposure to risk a dwelling location may represent. By analysing census tracts, this research draws a comparison between consumer spending on flood insurance policies in areas showing different levels of concern as regards risk of flooding. Results indicate that the natural conditioning factors mentioned above seem to play a lesser role when determining a pattern of consumer speding. It is in fact the insurance companies' profit motive that appears to deeply influence consumer behaviour. The study area comprises a number of municipalities located in the Spanish Mediterranean coast, from the Region of Murcia to Catalonia. Being a high risk flood area and having experienced steady urban development for the last four decades, the study of this area ensures representative results.