Months after Katrina, still no major recovery effort.

• Author: Krugman, Paul
• Position: Post disaster reconstruction - Brief Article

Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina, President Bush promised big things for the Gulf Coast region. But more than three months tater, a major reconstruction effort isn't in the planning stage, let atone under way. By letting the Gulf region languish, Bush is allowing a window of opportunity to dose. The private sector can't rebuild the region on its own. In addition to needing flood protection and basic infrastructure, which only the government can provide, rebuilding is being blocked by a vicious circle of uncertainty. Businesses are reluctant to return to the region because they fear their customers and workers won't return. And ramifies are reluctant to return because they...