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Trusting Former Rebels: An Experimental Approach to Understanding Reintegration after Civil War

Author

Listed:
  • Michal Bauer

    (Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Smetanovo nábreží 6, 111 01 Prague 1, Czech Republic
    CERGE-IE, Charles University in Prague)

  • Nathan Fiala

    (University of Connecticut)

  • Ian Levely

    (Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Smetanovo nábreží 6, 111 01 Prague 1, Czech Republic)

Abstract
We use a set of experiments to study the effects of forced military service for a rebel group on social capital. We examine the case of Northern Uganda, where recruits did not self-select nor were systematically screened by rebels. We find that individual cooperativeness robustly increases with length of soldiering, especially among those who soldiered during early age. Parents of ex-soldiers are aware of the behavioral difference: they trust ex-soldiers more and expect them to be more trustworthy. These results suggest that the impact of child soldiering on social capital, in contrast to human capital, is not necessarily detrimental.

Suggested Citation

  • Michal Bauer & Nathan Fiala & Ian Levely, 2014. "Trusting Former Rebels: An Experimental Approach to Understanding Reintegration after Civil War," Working Papers IES 2014/20, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, revised May 2014.
    • Handle: RePEc:fau:wpaper:wp2014_20
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    File URL: http://ies.fsv.cuni.cz/sci/publication/show/id/5190/lang/cs
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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