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Military Service and Economic Mobility: Evidence from the American Civil War

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  • Chulhee Lee

Abstract

How did geographic and occupational mobility after the Civil War differ between Union Army veterans and nonveterans? By 1880, Union veterans were more likely to migrate to a different state or region than nonveterans. The higher geographic mobility of veterans is likely attributable to their experience of traveling away from their hometowns while in service. Union veterans who held unskilled jobs prior to enlistment were more likely to move up to white-collar or farming jobs by 1880 than unskilled nonveterans. In contrast, unskilled veterans were less likely to become artisans than nonveterans. The differences in occupational mobility by veteran status might be explained by the effects of military experiences such as learning from comrades in the company.

Suggested Citation

  • Chulhee Lee, 2012. "Military Service and Economic Mobility: Evidence from the American Civil War," Working Paper Series no83, Institute of Economic Research, Seoul National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:snu:ioerwp:no83
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    Cited by:

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    3. Paul E. Gabriel, 2020. "An Empirical Examination of the Occupational Attainment of American Veterans of World War I," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(3), pages 1009-1017, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N41 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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