Wicked multi-problems (COVID-19 + Oil Spill + wildFires) in Brazil and their effects on socioeconomic vulnerability
International Journal of Social Economics
ISSN: 0306-8293
Article publication date: 7 June 2022
Issue publication date: 19 September 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to identify Brazil's socioeconomic vulnerability to wicked multi-problems arising from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (2019–2020), from the most extensive (∼ 3,000 km) oil spill in tropical oceans (2019/2020) and from the highest rate of wildfires in the last decade.
Design/methodology/approach
To this end, the authors measured the socioeconomic vulnerabilities of the 27 Brazilian states to these multi-problems (COVID-19 + Oil Spill + wildFire), considering the effects of these events individually and together. In addition, the authors calculated the vulnerability indices using two variables: production value and number of jobs created by an economic activity.
Findings
Results show the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro as the most susceptible, with a potential loss of 74.2% in production value and 47% in active employment relationships, caused by these overlapping events in time. The results also demonstrate that the country has failed in the coordination and management of these events (separately and jointly), showing difficulties especially in the stages of immediate response and recovery.
Originality/value
Regarding its contributions, this paper innovates by establishing an unprecedented overlap of wicked problems, linking this concept to the analysis of socioeconomic vulnerability of the affected communities, through a model that applies to other regions worldwide.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-09-2021-0536
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was sponsored by FUNCAP Chief-Scientist Program, Cnpq (442337/2020-5), CAPES Print Program, and Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation (CAPES/AVH). MOS is CNPq research fellow 1D (Grant 313518/2020-3). FRS thanks Instituto Desenvolvimento, Estratégia e Conhecimento (IDESCO) and FUNCAP.
Citation
Câmara, S.F., Silva, F.R.d., Pinto, F.R. and Soares, M.d.O. (2022), "Wicked multi-problems (COVID-19 + Oil Spill + wildFires) in Brazil and their effects on socioeconomic vulnerability", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 49 No. 11, pp. 1625-1642. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-09-2021-0536
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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