Short and long term impact of the Paraguayan War on female labour participation

Abstract

This paper investigates the short and long-term effects of the Paraguayan War (1864-1870) on female labour participation. This conflict cost the lives of 60% of Paraguay’s population, disproportionally affecting the active male population in the eastern part of modern Paraguay. The loss of males’ life had an immediate demographic consequence, gender imbalance, which defined Paraguay as the ‘country of women’. Using unique archival data, the results indicate that municipalities that were more affected by the war exhibit higher levels of female labour participation in the short and long run. Identifying variation comes from comparing municipalities closer to the military camps established in 1864 to municipalities farther away.