Civil wars affect the economic conditions of households by disrupting economic transactions and harming their psychological well-being. To restore basic conditions for local economic recovery in conflict-torn regions, the international community has only a limited number of tools at its disposal. We ask whether UN peacekeeping is one instrument to mitigate the negative effect of conflict on households' economic well-being. We argue that, by reducing violence and heightening perceptions of safety, UN missions (i) encourage labor provision and economic exchanges, and (ii) instill confidence by reducing the psychological impact of daily stressors. Combining high-frequency household survey data and information on subnational deployment of UN peacekeepers in South Sudan, we show that peacekeepers' military presence improves security (observed and perceived), which in turn revitalizes local economies and households' subjective well-being. These improvements ultimately boost households' consumption, partially countering the negative effect of ongoing civil wars by keeping local communities' economy afloat.

Bove, V., Salvatore, J., Elia, L. (2022). UN Peacekeeping and Households' Well-Being in Civil Wars. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, 66(2 (April 2022)), 402-417 [10.1111/ajps.12644].

UN Peacekeeping and Households' Well-Being in Civil Wars

Elia L.
2022

Abstract

Civil wars affect the economic conditions of households by disrupting economic transactions and harming their psychological well-being. To restore basic conditions for local economic recovery in conflict-torn regions, the international community has only a limited number of tools at its disposal. We ask whether UN peacekeeping is one instrument to mitigate the negative effect of conflict on households' economic well-being. We argue that, by reducing violence and heightening perceptions of safety, UN missions (i) encourage labor provision and economic exchanges, and (ii) instill confidence by reducing the psychological impact of daily stressors. Combining high-frequency household survey data and information on subnational deployment of UN peacekeepers in South Sudan, we show that peacekeepers' military presence improves security (observed and perceived), which in turn revitalizes local economies and households' subjective well-being. These improvements ultimately boost households' consumption, partially countering the negative effect of ongoing civil wars by keeping local communities' economy afloat.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
peacekeeping, consumption, economic growth
English
1-lug-2021
2022
66
2 (April 2022)
402
417
open
Bove, V., Salvatore, J., Elia, L. (2022). UN Peacekeeping and Households' Well-Being in Civil Wars. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, 66(2 (April 2022)), 402-417 [10.1111/ajps.12644].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/458537
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