Children of War
利用二战期间德国地区破坏强度的差异,发现大规模物理破坏对学龄儿童的受教育程度、健康和劳动力市场结果有长期负面影响,学校破坏和营养不良是重要渠道。
Abstract This paper provides causal evidence on the long-term consequences of large-scale physical destruction on educational attainment, health status, and labor market outcomes of children. I exploit the plausibly exogenous region-by-cohort variation in the intensity of World War Two (WWII) destruction as a unique quasi-experiment. I find that exposure to destruction had long-lasting detrimental effects on the human capital formation, health, and labor market outcomes of Germans who were at school-age during WWII. An important channel for the effect of destruction on educational attainment is the destruction of schools whereas malnutrition is partly behind the estimated impact on health.