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Fighting for Tyranny: State Repression and Combat Motivation

Author

Listed:
  • Arturas Rozenas
  • Roya Talibova
  • Yuri M. Zhukov

Abstract

We utilize over 100 million declassified Red Army personnel records from World War II to study how state repression shapes soldiers' motivation to exert effort in fighting. Exploiting multiple complementary identification strategies, we find that soldiers from places with higher levels of prewar repression under Stalin's rule were more likely to fight until death and less likely to shirk their duties, but they also received fewer decorations for personal bravery. The coercive incentives created by repression appear to have induced obedience at the expense of initiative and increased the human costs of war.

Suggested Citation

  • Arturas Rozenas & Roya Talibova & Yuri M. Zhukov, 2024. "Fighting for Tyranny: State Repression and Combat Motivation," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(3), pages 44-75, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:44-75
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20220085
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-
    • N44 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: 1913-
    • P26 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Property Rights

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