The Aftermath of Civil War

Posted: 16 Jun 2008

See all articles by Siyan Chen

Siyan Chen

World Bank

Norman Loayza

World Bank - Research Department

Marta Reynal-Querol

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG); Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: 2008

Abstract

Using an event-study methodology, the article analyzes the aftermath of civil war in a cross-section of countries. It focuses on cases where the end of conflict marks the beginning of relatively lasting peace. The analysis considers 41 countries involved in internal wars over the period 1960-2003. To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the aftermath of war, a range of social areas is considered: basic indicators of economic performance, health and education, political development, demographic trends, and conflict and security issues. For each indicator the post- and pre-war situations are compared and their dynamic trends during the post-conflict period are examined. The analysis is conducted in both absolute terms and relative to control groups of countries that are similar except for conflict. The findings indicate that even though war has devastating effects and its aftermath can be immensely difficult, when the end of war marks the beginning of lasting peace, recovery and improvement are achieved.

Keywords: O11

Suggested Citation

Chen, Siyan and Loayza, Norman and Reynal-Querol, Marta and Reynal-Querol, Marta, The Aftermath of Civil War (2008). The World Bank Economic Review, Vol. 22, Issue 1, pp. 63-85, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1146331 or http://dx.doi.org/lhn001

Siyan Chen (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Norman Loayza

World Bank - Research Department ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Marta Reynal-Querol

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
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Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-458-7891 (Phone)

Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences ( email )

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Barcelona, 08005
Spain
93 5422590 (Phone)

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