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VideoApril 15, 2019

Plagues, Rebellions, and Wars: The Unexpected Development Benefits of Historical Shocks

Historically, conflicts and large shocks have played a key role in long-term development, leaving important institutional legacies that shape modern development outcomes. In this Policy Research Talk delivered on April 15, 2019, World Bank Lead Economist Colin Xu drew on recent studies of the long-term impact of historical conflicts and other large shocks to show how they often spur important demographic transitions and institutional changes (such as decentralization and the emergence of accountability), which result in long-term benefits for development.