Sociology
Social Capital in Disaster Recovery and Community Resilience
Quick fact
After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, villages with dense social networks—measured by participation in local groups—had significantly lower death rates, even when physical infrastructure and warning systems were similar.
Why this is interesting
Imagine two towns hit by the same flood. One seems to bounce back within months; the other struggles for years. What makes the difference, when both have similar buildings and budgets?