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Violent conflict and the child quantity–quality tradeoff

Author

Listed:
  • Apsara KARKI NEPAL

    (CIMMYT, Lalitpur, Nepal)

  • Martin HALLA

    (Vienna University of Economics and Business)

  • Steve STILLMAN

    (Department of Economics and Management, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano)

Abstract

We show that the exposure to war-related violence increases the quantity of children temporarily, with permanent negative consequences for the quality of the current and previous cohorts. Our empirical evidence is based on Nepal, which experienced a 10 year long civil conflict of varying intensity. We exploit that villages affected by the conflict had the same trend in fertility as non-affected villages prior to the onset of conflict and employ a difference-in-differences estimator. We find that women in affected villages increased their fertility during the conflict by 19%, while child height-for-age declined by 10%. Supporting evidence suggests that the temporary fertility increase was the main pathway leading to reduced child height, as opposed to direct impacts of the conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • Apsara KARKI NEPAL & Martin HALLA & Steve STILLMAN, 2025. "Violent conflict and the child quantity–quality tradeoff," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 91(3), pages 343-377, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:91:y:2025:i:3:p:343-377
    DOI: 10.1017/dem.2023.28
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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