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It's the Local Economy, Stupid! Geographic Wealth Dispersion and Conflict Outbreak Location

Author

Listed:
  • Halvard Buhaug

    (Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO, Oslo, Norway)

  • Kristian Skrede Gleditsch

    (Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO, Oslo, Norway and University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK)

  • Helge Holtermann

    (Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO, Oslo, Norway and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway)

  • Gudrun Østby'

    (Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO, Oslo, Norway)

  • Andreas Forø Tollefsen

    (Centre for the Study of Civil War, PRIO, Oslo, Norway and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

Income varies considerably within countries and the locations where conflicts emerge are rarely typical or representative for states at large. Yet, most research on conflict has only examined national income averages and neglected spatial variation. The authors argue that civil conflicts are more likely to erupt in areas with low absolute income, even if a country's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is not necessarily low, and in areas with large deviations from national averages. The authors test these hypotheses empirically using spatially disaggregated data on the location of conflict outbreaks and per capita income estimates. The authors find that areas with absolute poverty indeed see more outbreaks of conflict, and they find some evidence that inequality increases the risk of conflict. Subnational information can improve on conventional country-based measures and help our understanding of how local features and variation can give rise to mobilization and violence.

Suggested Citation

  • Halvard Buhaug & Kristian Skrede Gleditsch & Helge Holtermann & Gudrun Østby' & Andreas Forø Tollefsen, 2011. "It's the Local Economy, Stupid! Geographic Wealth Dispersion and Conflict Outbreak Location," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 55(5), pages 814-840, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:55:y:2011:i:5:p:814-840
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. J. M. Quinn, 2015. "Territorial contestation and repressive violence in civil war," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5), pages 536-554, October.
    2. Sara Balestri & Mario A. Maggioni, 2021. "This Land Is My Land! Large-Scale Land Acquisitions and Conflict Events in Sub-Saharan Africa," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 427-450, May.
    3. Philip Arena & Brian Hardt, 2014. "Incentives to Rebel, Bargaining, and Civil War," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(1), pages 127-141, January.
    4. Anders Engvall & Magnus Andersson, 2014. "The Dynamics of Conflict in Southern Thailand," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 13(3), pages 169-189, Fall.
    5. Kalenborn, Christine & Lessmann, Christian, 2014. "Regional Income Inequality lowers Life Satisfaction: Evidence from OECD Countries," VfS Annual Conference 2014 (Hamburg): Evidence-based Economic Policy 100561, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Paul Bezerra & Alex Braithwaite, 2016. "Locating foreign aid commitments in response to political violence," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 333-355, December.
    7. Fjelde, Hanne, 2015. "Farming or Fighting? Agricultural Price Shocks and Civil War in Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 525-534.

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