Cited by 272Health and Conflict StudiesGender, Security, and ConflictPolitical Conflict and Governance

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The Unequal Burden of War: The Effect of Armed Conflict on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy

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Plümper, Thomas, Neumayer, Eric·2006·International Organization

DOI 10.1017/s0020818306060231

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Abstract

Most combatants in armed conflict are men, so naturally men are the major direct victims of military operations. Yet armed conflicts have important indirect negative consequences on agriculture, infrastructure, public health provision, and social order. These indirect consequences are often overlooked and underappreciated. They also affect women—arguably more so than men. This article provides the first rigorous analysis of the impact of armed conflict on female life expectancy relative to male. We find that over the entire conflict period, interstate and civil wars on average affect women more adversely than men. In peacetime, women typically live longer than men. Hence, armed conflict tends to decrease the gap between female and male life expectancy. For civil wars, we also find that ethnic wars and wars in “failed” states are much more damaging to women than other civil wars. Our findings challenge policymakers as well as international and humanitarian organizations to develop policies that tackle the large indirect and long-term negative health impacts of armed conflicts.

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Authors: Plümper, T., & Neumayer, E.
Affiliations: University of Essex (GB)
Peace Research Institute Oslo (NO)
ORCID: Neumayer, Eric
Venue: International Organization
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 2006-07
Volume: 60
Issue: 3
Pages: 723-754
ISSN: 0020-8183 (ISSN-L)
1531-5088
DOI: 10.1017/s0020818306060231
OpenAlex: W3123057741
Cited by: 269
References: 58
Citations by year: 2026: 9 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 14.76
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 39 d)
Locations: International Organization (publishedVersion)
WU Research (publishedVersion)
London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (submittedVersion)
London School of Economics and Political Science Theses Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (submittedVersion)
SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders: Leverhulme Trust
European Commission
Topics: Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Conflict Studies
Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Security, and Conflict
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Political Conflict and Governance
Keywords: armed conflict, gender differences in life expectancy, female life expectancy, civil war, interstate war, ethnic conflict, failed states, gender inequality

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The Unequal Burden of War: The Effect of Armed Conflict on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy

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