Social Violent Event in Childhood and Human Capital: The Long-Run Effect of Exposure to the Gwangju Uprising in Childhood in South Korea

Jung-Seung Yang

Journal of Development Studies, 2025, vol. 61, issue 8, 1242-1257

Abstract: This study examines the impact of social violent events in childhood, such as the Gwangju Uprising, on the development of human capital. Specifically, it analyzes how exposure to the Gwangju Uprising during childhood influences educational attainment in adulthood using the difference-in-differences method. The results of the analysis indicate that exposure to the Gwangju Uprising had a negative effect on educational attainment. While there may be some confounding factors that could introduce biases, their magnitude is not significant enough to invalidate the finding that exposure to violence has a detrimental impact on human capital formation. Furthermore, the study explores whether the negative effects observed are due to mental health issues, such as trauma, or the erosion of social capital, by evaluating the intensity of exposure to violence. The findings suggest that the latter is more likely to be the underlying cause of the negative effects, rather than mental health problems.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2025.2456907

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