War and Stature: Growing Up During the Nigerian Civil War

Richard Akresh (), Sonia Bhalotra, Marinella Leone and Una Osili

No 6194, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 was precipitated by secession of the Igbo-dominated south-eastern region to create the state of Biafra. It was the first civil war in Africa, the predecessor of many. We investigate the legacies of this war four decades later. Using variation across ethnicity and cohort, we identify significant long run impacts on human health capital. Individuals exposed to the war at all ages between birth and adolescence exhibit reduced adult stature and these impacts are largest in adolescence. Adult stature is portentous of reduced life expectancy and lower earnings.

Keywords: height; early life; human capital investments; Nigeria; war (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 J13 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 13 pages
Date: 2011-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-dev and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Published - published in: American Economic Review, 2012, 102 (3), 273-277

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Related works:
Journal Article: War and Stature: Growing Up during the Nigerian Civil War (2012)
Working Paper: War and Stature: Growing Up During the Nigerian Civil War (2012)
Working Paper: War and Stature: Growing Up During the Nigerian Civil War (2011)
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