Implications of an Economic Theory of Conflict: Hindu-Muslim Violence in India

S-Tier
Journal: Journal of Political Economy
Year: 2014
Volume: 122
Issue: 4
Pages: 719 - 765

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We model intergroup conflict driven by economic changes within groups. We show that if group incomes are low, increasing group incomes raises violence against that group and lowers violence generated by it. We then apply the model to data on Hindu-Muslim violence in India. Our main result is that an increase in per capita Muslim expenditures generates a large and significant increase in future religious conflict. An increase in Hindu expenditures has a negative or no effect. These findings speak to the origins of Hindu-Muslim violence in post-Independence India.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/676316
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26