Abstract
What happens to the economic performance of a region contaminated by explosive remnants of war (unexploded ordnance and landmines) when it is finally cleared? Which regions benefit the most? And what are the aggregate country-wide effects of landmine clearance? To address these questions, we collected data covering the two-decade-long landmine clearance operations in Mozambique, the only so-far heavily contaminated by landmines country that has been declared landmine free.
Our empirical analysis shows small-to-moderate average effects of landmine clearance on local economic activity, as reflected on satellite images on light density at night. However, clearance has considerable effects on areas close to the main roads-railroads. Due to sizable spillovers from clearance operations of the infrastructure network, the economy-wide effects of landmine clearance are large. Our results carry implications for landmine clearance operations around the world.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT