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Scarred but Wiser : World War 2's COVID Legacy

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  • Lokshin,Michael M.
  • Kolchin,Vladimir
  • Ravallion,Martin

Abstract

The paper formalizes and tests the hypothesis that greater exposure to big shocks induces stronger societal responses for adaptation and protection from future big shocks. Support for this hypothesis is found in various strands of the literature and in new empirical tests using cross-country data on deaths due to COVID-19 and deaths during World War 2. Countries with higher death rates in the war saw lower death rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tests are robust to a wide range of model specifications and alternative assumptions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lokshin,Michael M. & Kolchin,Vladimir & Ravallion,Martin, 2020. "Scarred but Wiser : World War 2's COVID Legacy," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9481, The World Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9481
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    Cited by:

    1. Borisova, Ekaterina & Gründler, Klaus & Hackenberger, Armin & Harter, Anina & Potrafke, Niklas & Schoors, Koen, 2023. "Crisis experience and the deep roots of COVID-19 vaccination preferences," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    2. Klaus Gründler & Armin Hackenberger & Anina Harter & Niklas Potrafke, 2021. "Covid-19 Vaccination: The Role of Crisis Experience," CESifo Working Paper Series 9096, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Armed Conflict; Law and Justice Institutions; Conflict and Fragile States; Leprosy; Cholera; Communicable Diseases; Avian Flu;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative

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