Aiding Conflict: The Impact of U.S. Food Aid on Civil War

Nancy Qian and Nathan Nunn

No 8799, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of U.S. food aid on conflict in recipient countries. To establish a causal relationship, we exploit time variation in food aid caused by fluctuations in U.S. wheat production together with cross-sectional variation in a country's tendency to receive any food aid from the United States. Our estimates show that an increase in U.S. food aid increases the incidence, onset and duration of civil conflicts in recipient countries. Our results suggest that the effects are larger for smaller scale civil conflicts. No effect is found on interstate warfare.

Keywords: Civil conflict; Foreign aid; Humanitarian aid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F34 F5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Working Paper: Aiding Conflict: The Impact of U.S. Food Aid on Civil War (2012)
Working Paper: Aiding Conflict: The Impact of U.S. Food Aid on Civil War (2012)
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