Drought, Risk Management, and Policy

"Drought, Risk Management, and Policy: Decision Making under Uncertainty contributes in a substantial way to this discussion and the ensuing debate on the merits of national drought policy over the traditional crisis management approach. Linda Botterill and Geoff Cockfield are eminently qualified as editors of this volume through their extensive experience with the policy process in Australia and elsewhere. ... Together they have assembled a series of important contributions to the discussion of drought policy, comparing the experiences of Australia with the process that has unfolded in the United States over the past decade. ... it will certainly heighten awareness of the process of drought policy development as part of broader discussions on preparing for an uncertain future climate."
—From the Series Editor’s Preface by Donald A. Wilhite, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

"This book shows how the changing role of scientific evidence and economic argument have made a real difference, but that entrenched attitudes to risk management have their own histories in influencing policy settings. The diverse expertise of the contributors provide breadth of coverage, and a valuable opportunity to learn from comparative studies."
—Professor Brian Head, The University of Queensland, Australia

"In this important and timely volume, the authors systematically unpick precisely why droughts are a problem (and to whom) then rigorously analyze what can and should be done (and by whom) to mitigate the impacts on society as a whole, and on particular sectors of interest. … reveals important - and often surprising - new insights into why, when, where and how governments can usefully and effectively intervene. As the authors note ‘the rhetoric of preparedness and self-sufficiency is not necessarily matched by policy and practice, with governments still using reactive and preferential measures, and farmers still expecting that.’"
—Dr R Neil Byron, Former Commissioner, Productivity Commission of Australia, Canberra

"The book will prove invaluable, not only for specialists in agricultural policy, but for anyone concerned with the public role in risk management, and with the broader debate over ‘wicked’ policy problems."
—John Quiggin, The University of Queensland. Australia

"Drought, Risk Management, and Policy: Decision Making under Uncertaintycontributes in a substantial way to this discussion and the ensuing debate on the merits of national drought policy over the traditional crisis management approach. Linda Botterill and Geoff Cockfield are eminently qualified as editors of this volume through their extensive experience with the policy process in Australia and elsewhere. ... Together they have assembled a series of important contributions to the discussion of drought policy, comparing the experiences of Australia with the process that has unfolded in the United States over the past decade. ... it will certainly heighten awareness of the process of drought policy development as part of broader discussions on preparing for an uncertain future climate."—From the Series Editor’s Preface by Donald A. Wilhite, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

"This book shows how the changing role of scientific evidence and economic argument have made a real difference, but that entrenched attitudes to risk management have their own histories in influencing policy settings. The diverse expertise of the contributors provide breadth of coverage, and a valuable opportunity to learn from comparative studies."—Professor Brian Head, The University of Queensland, Australia

"In this important and timely volume, the authors systematically unpick precisely why droughts are a problem (and to whom) then rigorously analyze what can and should be done (and by whom) to mitigate the impacts on society as a whole, and on particular sectors of interest. … reveals important - and often surprising - new insights into why, when, where and how governments can usefully and effectively intervene. As the authors note ‘the rhetoric of preparedness and self-sufficiency is not necessarily matched by policy and practice, with governments still using reactive and preferential measures, and farmers still expecting that.’"—Dr R Neil Byron, Former Commissioner, Productivity Commission of Australia, Canberra

"The book will prove invaluable, not only for specialists in agricultural policy, but for anyone concerned with the public role in risk management, and with the broader debate over ‘wicked’ policy problems."—John Quiggin, The University of Queensland. Australia