Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-30-2017

Publication Title

The Journal of Development Studies

Volume

56

Abstract

Exposure to political violence has been found to affect behavioural parameters. The effects of high levels of criminal violence, however, are largely unknown. We examine the effects of Mexico’s war on drugs on risk aversion, mental health and pro-social behaviour. Using a nonlinear difference-in-differences (DiD) model, we find that the post 2006 surge in violence significantly increased risk aversion and reduced trust in civic institutions without any simultaneous strengthening of kinship relationships. Although the deterioration of mental health due to violence exposure has been hypothesised to explain changes in risk aversion, we find no such effect.

Issue

1

First Page

26

Last Page

44

DOI

10.1080/00220388.2017.1400016

ISSN

1743-9140

Rights

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in The Journal of Development Studies on November 30, 2017, available online at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220388.2017.1400016

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