Working Paper: NBER ID: w22312
Authors: Michal Bauer; Christopher Blattman; Julie Chytilov; Joseph Henrich; Edward Miguel; Tamar Mitts
Abstract: In the past decade, nearly 20 studies have found a strong, persistent pattern in surveys and behavioral experiments from over 40 countries: individual exposure to war violence tends to increase social cooperation at the local level, including community participation and prosocial behavior. Thus while war has many negative legacies for individuals and societies, it appears to leave a positive legacy in terms of local cooperation and civic engagement. We discuss, synthesize and reanalyze the emerging body of evidence, and weigh alternative explanations. There is some indication that war violence especially enhances in-group or "parochial" norms and preferences, a finding that, if true, suggests that the rising social cohesion we document need not promote broader peace.
Keywords: war; cooperation; social behavior; civic engagement
JEL Codes: C80; D74; H56; O10; O12; O40
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| exposure to war violence (H56) | increased social cooperation (D70) |
| increased social cooperation (D70) | civic engagement and prosocial behavior (D64) |
| exposure to war violence (H56) | participation in community activities (I24) |
| exposure to war violence (H56) | higher levels of social participation over time (I14) |
| war exposure effects (I12) | consistent across demographics (J79) |
| exposure to war violence (H56) | ingroup prosocial behavior (D64) |
| ingroup prosocial behavior (D64) | altruism towards community members (D64) |
| exposure to war violence (H56) | social divisions and conflict (D74) |