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Children of War: The Long-Run Effects of Large-Scale Physical Destruction and Warfare on Children
- Journal of Human Resources
- University of Wisconsin Press
- Volume 49, Number 3, Summer 2014
- pp. 634-662
- 10.1353/jhr.2014.0021
- Article
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This paper provides causal evidence on the long-term consequences of large-scale physical destruction on educational attainment, health status, and labor market outcomes of children. I exploit the plausibly exogenous region-by-cohort variation in the intensity of World War Two (WWII) destruction as a unique quasi-experiment. I find that exposure to destruction had long-lasting detrimental effects on the human capital formation, health, and labor market outcomes of Germans who were at school-age during WWII. An important channel for the effect of destruction on educational attainment is the destruction of schools whereas malnutrition is partly behind the estimated impact on health.