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Long-lasting consequences of war on disability

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Palmer

    (Department of Economics, University of Western Australia)

  • Cuong Viet Nguyen

    (Institute of Public Policy and Management, National Economics University)

  • Sophie Mitra

    (Department of Economics, Fordham University)

  • Daniel Mont

    (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London)

  • Nora Ellen Groce

    (Leonard Cheshire Research Centre, University College London)

Abstract

This article investigates the impact of exposure to United States air force bombing during 1965–75 on the disability status of individuals in Vietnam in 2009. Using a combination of national census and US military data and an instrumental variable strategy which exploits the distance to the former North–South border as a quasi-experiment, the article finds a positive and significant impact of bombing exposure on district level disability rates 40 years after the war. The overall effect of bombing on the long-term disability rate among the Vietnamese population is highest among heavily bombed districts. Districts in the top bombing quintile experience a 25% relative increase in the rate of disability attributable to bombing compared with districts in the lowest bombing quintile. Effects are highest on the prevalence of severe disability and among cohorts before the war’s end. A smaller, yet significant, effect is found among cohorts born after the war. The article finds further evidence of indirect channels through which bombing may have impacted on long-term disability including adverse effects on nutritional environment and human capital attainment. These findings add to the evidence from Vietnam and indicate that wars inflict costs on the health of human populations that last longer than those relating to economic growth and welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Palmer & Cuong Viet Nguyen & Sophie Mitra & Daniel Mont & Nora Ellen Groce, 2019. "Long-lasting consequences of war on disability," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 56(6), pages 860-875, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:joupea:v:56:y:2019:i:6:p:860-875
    DOI: 10.1177/0022343319846545
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. repec:ags:aaea22:335704 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Nguyen, Cuong Viet & Tran, Tuyen Quang & Van Vu, Huong, 2024. "The long-term effects of war on foreign direct investment and economic development: evidence from Vietnam," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    3. Le, Duong Trung & Pham, Thanh Minh & Polachek, Solomon, 2022. "The long-term health impact of Agent Orange: Evidence from the Vietnam War," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    4. Nguyen, Cuong Viet & Nguyen, Quynh Ngoc, 2023. "Disabilities and Care Needs among Older People: Evidence from Vietnam," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1244, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. 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.
    6. Sean Kiely & Dorothee Buehler & Ute Rink & Kristin Kiesel, 2023. "The effects of disability on households' economic livelihoods and poverty in Vietnam," TVSEP Working Papers wp-035, Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Project TVSEP.
    7. Do, Trang Thu & Whittaker, Andrea, 2020. "Contamination, suffering and womanhood: Lay explanations of breast cancer in Central Vietnam," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    8. Bharati, Tushar, 2022. "The long shadow of the Kargil War: The effect of early-life stress on education," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    9. Vuong, Vu & Palmer, Michael, 2024. "Love Thy Neighbour? Social Attitudes Towards Persons With Disabilities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    10. Appau, Samuelson & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2021. "The long-term impact of the Vietnam War on agricultural productivity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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