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Detailed Geographic Information, Conflict Exposure, and Health Impacts

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  • Akresh, Richard

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Caruso, German Daniel

    (World Bank)

  • Thirumurthy, Harsha

    (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)

Abstract

We estimate the impact of exposure to conflict on health outcomes using geographic information on households' distance from conflict sites – a more accurate measure of shock exposure – and compare the impact on children exposed in utero versus after birth. The identification strategy relies on exogenous variation in the conflict's geographic extent and timing. Conflict-exposed children have lower height-for-age, and impacts using GPS information are 2-3 times larger than if exposure is measured at the imprecise regional level. Results are robust to addressing endogenous migration. Health service disruptions and maternal stressors are potential explanations for the negative health effects on children.

Suggested Citation

  • Akresh, Richard & Caruso, German Daniel & Thirumurthy, Harsha, 2016. "Detailed Geographic Information, Conflict Exposure, and Health Impacts," IZA Discussion Papers 10330, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10330
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fetal origins hypothesis; conflict; child health; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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