Income Distribution and War Trauma: a Cross-National Analysis

Abstract

HIS analysis investigates the possible effects of civil and foreign wars on income distribution. Past studies have generally focused on how real or perceived injustice in the provision or distribution of social goods (e.g., income, land) can breed political instability in the form of insurgencies or revolutions (e.g., Gurr 1970; Midlarsky 1988, 1982; Midlarsky and Roberts 1985; Mitchell 1968; Muller and Seligson 1987; Nagel 1974; Olson 1963; Panning 1983; Paranzino 1973; Russett 1964). Relatively little empirical attention has been directed to the reverse causal possibility; namely, whether the major social, economic, and political upheavals stemming from traumatic internal or external conflicts may affect the equity of income distribution. There is substantial evidence showing that the economies of the vanquished countries in major interstate conflicts tend to grow much faster than those of the victorious countries during the postwar era (Organski and Kugler 1980). Is it possible that this difference in national performance also applies to achievements regarding equitable income distribution?