Conflict, Institutions, and Economic Behavior: Legacies of the Cambodian Genocide

Abstract

This paper examines potential long-term effects of the Cambodian genocide under the Pol Pot regime (1975-’79) on individual economic behaviors. Combining spatial genocide data and census microdata, we compare children’s education among couples who had their first child during and after the Pol Pot period. We show that the genocide is negatively associated with subsequent educational investments for children among the former couples, but not the latter ones. Underlying social institutions and structures are discussed.