November 2016

IZA DP No. 10390: Economics of Civil Conflict: Evidence from the Punjab Insurgency

published in: Journal of Punjab Studies, 2015, 22 (2), 231 - 248

The Punjab Insurgency in India (1978-1993) took the lives of over 20,000 people. Yet, there has been little research on the economic causes and consequences of the conflict in Punjab, which has been classified as a civil war and also an insurgency. In this article, I delve into some of the reasons for why Punjab suffered such a prolonged and bloody insurgency. Finally, I consider the macro and microeconomic effects of the conflict in Punjab that affected every walk of life and perhaps continue to do so today.