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I agree that GDP per person would best be avoided for such calculations, particularly since measures more reflective of people, communities, and livelihoods exist. Examples are the Human Development Index http://hdr.undp.org and progress (or lack thereof) towards the Millennium Development Goals http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals Naturally, all indices have limitations, but true poverty, lack of access to resources, and absence of choices to reduce vulnerability are poorly indicated by a number which describes only one small part of the economy. It is indeed a fascinating exercise to examine countries' military budgets compared to their environment, development, sustainability, and disaster risk reduction budgets. Amongst other excellent publications related to this topic, see UNDP's "Reducing Disaster Risk: A Challenge for Development" (edited by Mark Pelling et al.) http://www.undp.org/bcpr/disred/rdr.htm For indicating the cost-effectiveness of disaster risk reduction measures on purely monetary terms, see the compilation of case studies at http://www.ilankelman.org/miscellany/MitigationSaves.rtf In addition to the chapter mentioned by Ben Wisner http://online.northumbria.ac.uk/geography_research/radix/resources/school-seismic-safety-august2004.doc other useful sources on the necessity of and possibilities for (and at times cost-effectiveness of) building seismic safety are listed below. Let us continue countering the suggestion that short-term macroeconomic indicators should be the criteria which dictate our decisions. Initial investment is required at times, but (a) if we can afford to buy guns and missiles (which are sometimes necessary) then we can afford to save children's lives (which is always necessary) and (b) immense financial and non-financial rewards will be reaped through appropriate disaster risk reduction measures. After all, good capitalists will save money by stopping disasters http://online.northumbria.ac.uk/geography_research/radix/resources/kelman-good-capitalists-stop-disasters.doc Ilan OECD Recommendation Concerning Guidelines on Earthquake Safety in Schools http://www.oecd.org/document/41/0,2340,en_2649_34527_8002921_1_1_1_1,00.html ADPC Creating Earthquake Preparedness in Schools http://www.adpc.net/AUDMP/library/safer_cities/10.pdf along with similarly useful documents at http://www.adpc.net/audmp/library.html OAS' Eduplan http://www.proventionconsortium.org/goodpractices/eduplan.htm and http://www.crid.or.cr/crid/CD_EIRD_Informa/esp/revista/No1_2001/pagina10.htm The Spanish version of Safe Hospitals: A Collective Responsibility http://www.paho.org/spanish/dd/ped/SafeHospitals.htm "Housing construction in earthquake-prone places: Perspectives, priorities and projections for development" by James Lewis in the "Australian Journal of Emergency Management" http://www.ema.gov.au/agd/EMA/rwpattach.nsf/viewasattachmentpersonal/(7F5D0EE0AF16918EF9B38CEAD6098342)~AJEM+4+HOUSING+CONSTRUCTION.pdf/$file/AJEM+4+HOUSING+CONSTRUCTION.pdf (URL might break into more than one line). A discussion by Ben Wisner and James Lewis in the "UN Chronicle" http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2003/issue3/0303p49.asp on building collapse in earthquakes. Rajib Shaw's article on "Living with Earthquakes: School Earthquake Safety Program" http://www.hyogo.uncrd.or.jp/publication/proceedings/2002workshop/2002Kobe/SCHOOL/A_ARYA/PAPER.PDF British Columbia's "School Earthquake Safety Guidebook" http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/capitalplanning/schoolearthquakesafetyguidebook.pdf and see Tracy Monk's lobbying on this issue at http://www.fsssbc.org