Effects of Civil Conflicts on Development: A Literature Review

Abstract

This paper reviews some recent studies on the effects of civil conflicts on development. These studies show that civil conflicts negatively affect not only the economic growth, but also other aspects of development: poverty, inequality, nutrition, child mortality, access to safe drinking water, schooling of children etc. These negative effects on development arise through both the direct and indirect effects of the destructive forces of civil wars on factors of production, technology, and institutions. However, we still do not have clear understanding of how civil wars affect human capital and institutions and hence development; thus, more studies are warranted to understand these issues fully.

Keywords: Civil Conflicts, Development, Factors of Production, Technology, Institution

JEL Classification: D74, EO2, O11, O4