Date of Award

3-19-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

David A. Smith, PhD

Abstract

While it will not cause the devastation of a nuclear weapon, the radiological dispersal event (RDE) is particularly dangerous in that it has the potential to cause major economic disruptions. The purpose of this research was to develop a generalized methodology that can be used to assess economic impacts, resulting from a (RDE), occurring in any location and across any industry. Currently, there is no universal approach for measuring the costs or economic impacts on businesses, or a common framework for conducting an economic impact for a RDE. The objective of this research was to aid in the RDE response effort by providing government planners, officials, and key stakeholders with an (pre-RDE) economic assessment tool which can be used to quantify the economic impacts arising from a RDE, thereby facilitating the strategic decision making process. A random study site was selected to use as a practical application for the research methodology. Through the use of an economic input-output model, the research identified that the economic impacts to the study site’s output totaled $1.2 billion, while impacts to labor income totaled $529.6 million. Overall, 21,374 jobs were affected due to the economic disruptions resulting from the RDE. The culmination of this effort was the development of a generalized, “off the shelf”, economic impact assessment tool that can be used to estimate the financial impacts of a RDE, or any localized event which disrupts an economy.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GFA-ENV-09-M02

DTIC Accession Number

ADA500525

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