The Effects of Conflict on Fertility in Rwanda

The aim of this paper is to study the
short and long-term fertility effects of mass violent
conflict on different population sub-groups. The authors
pool three nationally representative demographic and health
surveys from before and after the genocide in Rwanda,
identifying conflict exposure of the survivors in multiple
ways. The analysis finds a robust effect of genocide on
fertility, with a strong replacement effect for lost
children. Having lost siblings reduces fertility only in the
short term. Most interesting is the continued importance of
the institution of marriage in determining fertility and in
reducing fertility for the large group of widows in Rwanda.