Gender-Differential Effects of Conflict on Education: The Case of the 1981-1993 Punjab Insurgency

41 Pages Posted: 19 Apr 2013

See all articles by Prakarsh Singh

Prakarsh Singh

Amherst College - Department of Economics

Olga Shemyakina

Georgia Institute of Technology - School of Economics

Date Written: March 23, 2013

Abstract

This study explores the long-run effect of the 1981-1993 Punjab Insurgency on the educational attainment of adults who were between ages 6-16 years at the time of the insurgency, using the 2005 India Human Development Survey. We find a substantial and statistically significant negative effect of terrorism on educational attainment. To explore the channels through which the conflict affected education, we use a unique historical dataset on the annual expenditure decisions by farmers in the state of Punjab during 1978-1989. We find a significant reduction in expenditure on education by households with a high ratio of girls to boys and those residing in violence affected districts, which suggests that this reduction was one of the demand-side channels through which conflict affected education.

Keywords: India, Punjab, household expenditure, human capital, conflict

JEL Classification: I2, J1, O1

Suggested Citation

Singh, Prakarsh and Shemyakina, Olga, Gender-Differential Effects of Conflict on Education: The Case of the 1981-1993 Punjab Insurgency (March 23, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2253382 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2253382

Prakarsh Singh (Contact Author)

Amherst College - Department of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 5000
Amherst, MA 01002-5000
United States
413-542-2271 (Phone)

Olga Shemyakina

Georgia Institute of Technology - School of Economics ( email )

217 Habersham
Atlanta, GA 30332
United States

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