When a natural hazard, like an earthquake, strikes one country and causes great damage and loss of life, while another country, struck by a similar earthquake, is nearly unscathed, the difference often can be traced to preventive measures. Joining the hosts is Apurva Sanghi, Senior Economist at the World Bank, the team leader for the important book released last November by the World Bank and United Nations, Natural Hazards, UnNatural Disasters: the Economics of Effective Prevention. The natural hazards referred to in the title are earthquakes, droughts, floods and storms. The unnatural disasters are damages and death that follow in their wake, because of human action, or lack of action. The authors examine how governments can spend wisely to achieve effective prevention