Guns and Gains: Effects of Exposure to Counterinsurgency Operations During School-Age Years

Punarjit Roychowdhury, Sourish Mustafi and Bharti Nandwani

No 441, HiCN Working Papers from Households in Conflict Network

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of exposure to hard-security counterinsurgency operations during school-age years on human capital and labor market outcomes in India. We exploit the 1989 introduction of the Greyhounds—a specialized commando force created to combat Naxalite insurgents—in Andhra Pradesh, as a natural experiment. Among all states affected by Naxalite violence, only Andhra Pradesh established such a force during that period. Difference-in-differences estimates suggest that exposure to the policy during school-age years led to increased educational attainment and, in adulthood, better labor market outcomes and improved socioeconomic status. We provide suggestive evidence that a plausible mechanism underlying these effects is increased household investment in education due to reduced uncertainty stemming from improved security. Our findings highlight the economic returns to peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

Keywords: childhood; conflict; counterinsurgency; education; employment; india (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 F52 H56 O12 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-inv and nep-lma
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Working Paper: Guns and gains: effects of exposure to counterinsurgency operations during school-age years (2025)
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