RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Children of War
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 634
OP 662
DO 10.3368/jhr.49.3.634
VO 49
IS 3
A1 Mevlude Akbulut-Yuksel
YR 2014
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/49/3/634.abstract
AB 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.