A Systematic Review of the Socioeconomic Effects of Exposure to Political Violence

Abstract

In violent political conflicts, the ways in which victims both are affected by and adapt to the harsh circumstances to which they are subjected vary. Academic literature suggests differences in the ways that men, women, and children react to political violence. The research covering the socioeconomic effects of conflict is considerable, but there has not yet been a systematic review that reveals the big picture. This chapter provides such an overview by exploring the differences in vulnerabilities of different members of the household exposed to political violence, and the main mechanisms through which violent conflicts affect them. Existing literature is reviewed on the effects of violent political conflicts on families, men, women, and children in the fields of earnings, employment, education, and child labor. Strong evidence is found that exposure to political violence has a significant negative effect on human capital and labor market outcomes but that it affects men, women, and children differently.