Suppose that the rural part of a country is hit by a major earthquake that destroys 10% of the countries housing stock. The government and private sector respond with a major construction effort to help rebuild houses. Discuss how this episode is likely to affect:
(a) the economic well-being of people in the country, and
(b) the economy’s measured GDP.

(a) How this episode is likely to affect the economic well-being of people in the country

In the short-run, there will be an increase in labor demanded, increasing jobs to build homes and repair the damage caused by the earthquake. In the long-run, things will begin to go back to normal.

(b) How this episode is likely to affect the economy’s measured GDP

In this case, GDP measurements will shift causing less of an input in private spending and an increase in government spending due to subsidies to increase home-building.