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Military Service and Human Capital Accumulation: Evidence from Colonial Punjab

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  • Oliver Vanden Eynde

Abstract

This paper estimates the impact of military recruitment during World War I on human capital accumulation in colonial Punjab. The empirical strategy exploits the exogenous increase in recruitment by the Indian Army during the war. Higher military recruitment is found to be associated with increased literacy at the district-religion level. The observed improvement in the human capital stock appears to be driven by the informal acquisition of literacy skills by serving soldiers.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Vanden Eynde, 2016. "Military Service and Human Capital Accumulation: Evidence from Colonial Punjab," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 51(4), pages 10031035-10.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:51:y:2016:i:4:p:10031035
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.51.4.1013-5977R1
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    2. Roberto Bonfatti & Björn Brey, 2024. "Trade Disruption, Industrialisation, and the Setting Sun of British Colonial Rule in India," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 22(3), pages 1407-1451.
    3. Guilhem Cassan, 2015. "Identity-Based Policies and Identity Manipulation: Evidence from Colonial Punjab," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 7(4), pages 103-131, November.
    4. Hou, Benyufang & Liu, Hong & Wang, Sophie Xuefei, 2020. "Returns to military service in off-farm wage employment: Evidence from rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    5. Chunkai Zhao & Jianhao Guo, 2022. "Are Veterans Happy? Long-term Military Service and the Life Satisfaction of Elderly Individuals in China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 477-508, February.

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