Yousef Abdeljawad

The Impact of the Christchurch Earthquakes (2010-2011) on Labour Productivity in the Canterbury Region in New Zealand

Supervisors: Professor Ilan Noy and Dr Luke Chu

Profile

Yousef is a PhD candidate in Economics and a recipient of a scholarship funded by the Chair in the Economics of Disasters and Climate Change. His research focuses on the long-term socio-economic impacts of the 2010–11 Christchurch earthquakes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

He previously worked as a statistical assistant at the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, a mathematics teacher, and a part-time lecturer at Al-Quds Open University in Palestine.

Yousef’s doctoral research examines the long-term effects of the Christchurch earthquakes on productivity, income, migration, and offending. Using large-scale government data, he finds that productivity rose in Christchurch—particularly in the construction sector—while income growth was stronger in surrounding regions, especially among lower-income groups. The earthquakes also increased internal migration but had little effect on international migration. Offending patterns shifted, with temporary rises in traffic offences and declines in others. Overall, his work shows how natural disasters can create lasting economic and social change.

Education

MSc Economic Policy Management, An- Najah National University- Nablus- Palestine. (2018).

Professional Diploma in Education. National Institute for Educational Training- Ministry of Education- Palestine. (2015).

BSc Mathematics Applied to Economics, Birzeit University- Ramallah- Palestine. (2012).

Research interests

Socio-economic impacts of earthquakes, Economics of disasters, Environmental Economics.

Publications

Abdeljawad, Y., Noy, I., and Chu Y. (2025). Individuals’ Emigration from Christchurch City After the 2010-11 Earthquakes. Regional Studies, Regional Science. Volume 12, Issue 1, Pages 703-720.
Abdeljawad, Y., & Noy, I. (2025). The impact of 2010–11 Christchurch earthquakes on the individuals’ income by sector and income level. The Annals of Regional Science. Volume 74, article number 60.
Abdeljawad Y., & Noy I. (2024). The impact of the Christchurch earthquakes (2010–2011) on labour productivity in the Canterbury region in New Zealand. Environmental Hazards, 1–16.
Abdel Jawad Y., Zabada S., and Ayyash I. (2021). The Economic Cost and Environmental Effects of Paper Consumption and Computers Usage. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy. 11(1): 302-307.
Abdel Jawad Y., and Ayyash I. (2020). Analyze the loss of electricity in Palestine. Case Study: Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy. 10(1), 1-9.
Abdel Jawad Y., and Ayyash I. (2019). Analysis of Household Expenditure on Electricity in Palestine. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 2019, 9(5), 237-243.