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Abstract
This dissertation examines how migration, public communication, and disaster assistance affect environmental outcomes and recovery. It comprises three empirical studies using causal inference and high-resolution data to evaluate policy responses to environmental risks in both developing and developed contexts. Chapter 1 investigates how rural out-migration in Mon State, Myanmar, influences local deforestation. Combining household migration surveys with satellite data from 2000 to 2015, the study finds that each additional migrant is associated with reduced forest loss, with remittance income likely enabling a shift away from biomass fuels. Chapter 2 evaluates the U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system. Using a Regression Discontinuity in Time design around the 2012 rollout, the study finds that WEA reduced storm-related deaths by 4.3 per event day, implying over 3,600 lives saved. Chapter 3 analyzes the effect of FEMA Public Assistance on post-hurricane recovery. Using county-level nighttime light data and an event-study difference-in-differences approach, the study finds that treated counties show stronger recovery trajectories, with effects growing over time. Together, these studies highlight how migration behavior, public information, and federal aid contribute to environmental resilience and disaster response effectiveness.