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Growing-up Unfortunate: War and Human Capital in Ethiopia

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  • Weldeegzie, Samuel G.

Abstract

It is well-documented that early-life outcomes can have lasting impacts during adulthood. This paper investigates two of the main potential channels—childhood health and schooling outcomes—through which the Eritrean–Ethiopian war may have long-term economic impacts. Using unique child-level panel data from Ethiopia, identification is based on a difference-in-difference approach, using two points in time at which older and younger children have the same average age and controlling for observable household and child-level time-variant characteristics. The paper contributes to an empirical literature that relies predominantly on cross-sectional comparisons of child cohorts born before and after the war in war-affected and unaffected regions. The results show that war-exposed children have a one-third of a standard deviation lower height-for-age z-score and a 12-percentage point higher incidence of childhood stunting. In addition, exposed children are less likely to be enrolled in school, complete fewer grades (given enrollment), and are more likely to exhibit reading problems (given enrollment). While analyzing the exact mechanisms is challenging, suggestive evidence indicates that child health reduces child education, in particular the probability of child enrollment at school. These are disconcerting findings, as early-life outcomes can have lasting impacts during adulthood. Future research that focuses on mechanisms through which war affects children may improve the design of appropriate policies that aim to target and support children confronted with war.

Suggested Citation

  • Weldeegzie, Samuel G., 2017. "Growing-up Unfortunate: War and Human Capital in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 474-489.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:96:y:2017:i:c:p:474-489
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.03.030
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    2. Khoa Vu & Maria C. Lo Bue, 2019. "Intergenerational mobility of education in Vietnam: Evidence from the Vietnam War," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-67, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Laura Rodríguez, 2022. "Violence and newborn health: Estimates for Colombia," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 112-136, January.
    4. Mesfin, Hiwot & Cecchi, Francesco & Nillesen, Eleonora & Tirivayi, Nyasha, 2022. "The effect of siblings’ sex ratio on physical capital, human capital, and gendered time use among adolescents in Ethiopia," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    5. Abay, Kibrom A. & Tafere, Kibrom & Berhane, Guush & Chamberlin, Jordan & Abay, Mehari H., 2023. "Near-real-time welfare and livelihood impacts of an active war: Evidence from Ethiopia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    6. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Munyanyi, Musharavati Ephraim & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2021. "Early life shocks and entrepreneurship: Evidence from the Vietnam War," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 506-518.
    7. Akresh, Richard & Caruso, German Daniel & Thirumurthy, Harsha, 2022. "Detailed geographic information, conflict exposure, and health impacts," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Par, Tial Len & Ten, Gi Khan & Lee, Ju-Ho, 2022. "Early-life exposure to earthquakes and its long-term effects on human capital outcomes: The case of Myanmar," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Weldeegzie, Samuel, 2023. "The persistent effect of conflict on educational outcomes: Evidence from Ethiopia," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Kóczán, Zs., 2024. "Lasting scars: The long-term effects of school closures on earnings," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    11. Mohammad Ajmal Hameed & Mohammad Mafizur Rahman & Rasheda Khanam, 2024. "Asymmetric effects of long-term war on human resource development in Af…ghanistan: evidence from NARDL approach," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(5), pages 4807-4832, October.
    12. Abay,Kibrom A. & Hirfrfot,Kibrom Tafere & Berhane,Guush & Chamberlin,Jordan & Abay,Mehari H., 2022. "Near-Real-Time Welfare and Livelihood Impacts of an Active Civil War : Evidence from Ethiopia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10004, The World Bank.
    13. Bilo,Simon & Ajwad,Mohamed Ihsan & Alansari,Ebtesam & Alhumaidan,Lama & Alrashidi,Faleh M F E, 2021. "The Long Shadow of Short-Term Schooling Disruption : Analysis of Kuwait's Civil Service Payroll Data," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9641, The World Bank.

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