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

Nathan Nunn and Nancy Qian

No 17794, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

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.

JEL-codes: D74 F35 H84 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-01
Note: DAE EFG ITI PE POL
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

Published as Nunn, Nathan, and Nancy Qian. 2014. "US Food Aid and Civil Conflict." American Economic Review, 104(6): 1630-66.

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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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