SORS/WomenInBSC: The legacies of civil war on human development” (with Silvia Otero and Sarah Moore)

Abstract

This project investigates the long-term effects of civil war on human development in conflict zones. Using original data from Colombia, we analyze how variation in wartime dynamics—including rebel governance, violence, and uncertainty—shapes outcomes such as education, health, income, local governance, and civil and political freedoms. We find robust evidence of lower educational attainment and diminished basic freedoms in areas with armed group presence, even years after those groups have withdrawn. By contrast, we find no consistent associations between wartime violence or disorder and developmental outcomes, raising new questions about postwar recovery and the theoretical and methodological challenges of studying civil war legacies.