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Do civil wars shape citizens' attitudes towards taxation?: Micro-level evidence from Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Alessandro Belmonte
  • Vincenzo Bove
  • Jessica Di Salvatore

Abstract

Can the exposure to civil war make people more motivated to pay taxes and (re)build the state? Our project examines this question in the context of Africa, a region where civil wars have frequently undermined state capacity. We move from the popular Tillian view of war-making as state-making to study how civil wars shape states' capacity to collect and mobilize revenues (i.e. tax compliance and tax morale) in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Belmonte & Vincenzo Bove & Jessica Di Salvatore, 2025. "Do civil wars shape citizens' attitudes towards taxation?: Micro-level evidence from Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2025-65, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2025-65
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cederman, Lars-Erik & Galano Toro, Paola & Girardin, Luc & Schvitz, Guy, 2023. "War Did Make States: Revisiting the Bellicist Paradigm in Early Modern Europe," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 77(2), pages 324-362, February.
    2. Patricia Justino, 2022. "Wartime governance and state-building trajectories in post-conflict societies," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-48, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Alessandra Cassar & Pauline Grosjean & Sam Whitt, 2013. "Legacies of violence: trust and market development," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 285-318, September.
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