Geography, Poverty and Conflict in Nepal
26 Pages Posted: 15 Apr 2007 Last revised: 14 Aug 2014
Date Written: February 18, 2009
Abstract
This paper conducts an empirical analysis of the geographic, economic and social factors that contributed to the spread of civil war in Nepal over the period 1996-2006. This within-country analysis complements existing cross-country studies on the same subject. Using a detailed dataset to track civil war casualties across space and over time, several patterns are documented. Conflict-related deaths are significantly higher in poorer districts, and in geographical locations that favor insurgents, such as mountains and forests; a 10 percentage point increase in poverty is associated with 25-27 additional conflict-related deaths. This result is similar to that documented in cross-country studies. In addition, the relationship with poverty and geography is similar for deaths caused by the insurgents and deaths caused by the state. Furthermore, poorer districts are likely to be drawn into the insurgency earlier, consistent with the theory that a lower cost of recruiting rebels is an important factor in starting conflict. On the other hand, geographic factors are not significantly associated with such onset, suggesting that they instead contribute to the intensity of violence once conflict has started. Finally, in contrast with some cross-country analyses, ethnic and caste polarization, land inequality, and political participation are not significantly associated with violence.
Keywords: violent conflict, poverty, social polarization
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?
Recommended Papers
-
Under the Weather: Health, Schooling, and Socioeconomic Consequences of Early-Life Rainfall
By Sharon Maccini and Dean Yang
-
The Long Run Impact of Bombing Vietnam
By Edward Miguel and Gérard Roland
-
Under the Weather: Health, Schooling, and Economic Consequences of Early-Life Rainfall
By Sharon Maccini and Dean Yang
-
Armed Conflict and Schooling: Evidence from the 1994 Rwandan Genocide
By Richard Akresh and Damien De Walque
-
Armed Conflict and Schooling : Evidence from the 1994 Rwandan Genocide
By Richard Akresh and Damien De Walque
-
From Violence to Voting: War and Political Participation in Uganda
-
Poverty Dynamics, Violent Conflict and Convergence in Rwanda
By Patricia Justino and Philip Verwimp
-
Health and Civil War in Rural Burundi
By Tom Bundervoet, Philip Verwimp, ...
-
Health and Civil War in Rural Burundi
By Tom Bundervoet, Philip Verwimp, ...