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The Long Shadows of Skyfall: Economic Long-Term Effects of the US Bombing of Cambodia

Ryssel, Justus Valentin LU (2025) EKHS11 20251
Department of Economic History
Abstract
There is an expanding literature on the economic long-term effects of exogenous shocks such as armed conflict and economic crises. While some studies find evidence of poverty traps, the majority support the neoclassical prediction of eventual catch-up growth. This study contributes to the debate by examining Cambodia, which arguably became the most severely bombed country in history and site of one of the most dramatic genocides of the 20th century. Using 2025 commune-level poverty rates, I employ fixed effects, instrumental variables, and extensive robustness checks to investigate the economic legacy of the US bombing of Cambodia (1965-1973). The results show that 52 years after the end of the bombing, its economic effects have largely... (More)
There is an expanding literature on the economic long-term effects of exogenous shocks such as armed conflict and economic crises. While some studies find evidence of poverty traps, the majority support the neoclassical prediction of eventual catch-up growth. This study contributes to the debate by examining Cambodia, which arguably became the most severely bombed country in history and site of one of the most dramatic genocides of the 20th century. Using 2025 commune-level poverty rates, I employ fixed effects, instrumental variables, and extensive robustness checks to investigate the economic legacy of the US bombing of Cambodia (1965-1973). The results show that 52 years after the end of the bombing, its economic effects have largely dissipated. This study spans the longest post-conflict horizon hitherto examined in related literature and is the first country-wide study of potential poverty traps in Cambodia. Finally, it provides suggestive evidence that sub-national institutions mediated the recovery of Cambodian communes, offering a promising avenue for future research. (Less)
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author
Ryssel, Justus Valentin LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS11 20251
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Catch-up Growth, Poverty Traps, Vietnam War, Cambodia, Instrumental Variables
language
English
id
9196169
date added to LUP
2025-08-18 10:50:02
date last changed
2025-08-18 10:50:02
@misc{9196169,
  abstract     = {{There is an expanding literature on the economic long-term effects of exogenous shocks such as armed conflict and economic crises. While some studies find evidence of poverty traps, the majority support the neoclassical prediction of eventual catch-up growth. This study contributes to the debate by examining Cambodia, which arguably became the most severely bombed country in history and site of one of the most dramatic genocides of the 20th century. Using 2025 commune-level poverty rates, I employ fixed effects, instrumental variables, and extensive robustness checks to investigate the economic legacy of the US bombing of Cambodia (1965-1973). The results show that 52 years after the end of the bombing, its economic effects have largely dissipated. This study spans the longest post-conflict horizon hitherto examined in related literature and is the first country-wide study of potential poverty traps in Cambodia. Finally, it provides suggestive evidence that sub-national institutions mediated the recovery of Cambodian communes, offering a promising avenue for future research.}},
  author       = {{Ryssel, Justus Valentin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Long Shadows of Skyfall: Economic Long-Term Effects of the US Bombing of Cambodia}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}