The long-term effect of wartime social networks: evidence from African American Civil War veterans, 1870–1900

Boxiao Zhang ()
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Boxiao Zhang: Renmin University of China

Journal of Population Economics, 2023, vol. 36, issue 4, No 4, 2143 pages

Abstract: Abstract Temporary social networks may have long-term impacts on economic outcomes. This paper focuses on social networks formed during the American Civil War (1861–1865) among African American veterans. I find that wartime social networks (veterans from the same company) persistently affected veterans’ location choices in the post-Civil War period. By estimating discrete choice migration models, I show that veterans were more likely to move to a county where men from their military war company lived. By focusing on heterogeneous military companies and using the instrument of “weak” social networks, I rule out the competing explanation that the effect is driven by veterans having similar location preferences. The paper finds long-term benefits of living together as well. Veterans earned higher incomes after the war if they ended up living in the same county with wartime friends who had higher incomes.

Keywords: African American veteran; Social networks; Regional migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J61 N91 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-023-00940-6

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