Research

Working Paper — Last updated July 2025

I investigate the long-term effects of exposure to civil war on the physical health outcomes of the first and second generations. The context of Sierra Leone's civil war provides a unique opportunity to study the health impacts of conflict, as the entire population experienced varying degrees of exposure to violence. The analysis leverages two critical sources of variation to estimate the causal effect of conflict exposure on health outcomes: (1) geographic variation in conflict intensity and (2) age cohort variation based on childhood development trends. I use a difference-in-difference approach and geospatial analysis to granular estimate exposure to the war and incorporate additional conflict measures, such as war violations, to capture the broader realities of conflict. Experiencing conflict during adolescence marginally reduces adult height for women and suggests that long-term human capital is not solely shaped during early childhood; there is potential for intervention and mitigation during adolescence that may improve long-term development outcomes. This is also the first study to examine men's adult health following early childhood war exposure, finding no significant effects—likely tied to patriarchal food distribution during the war. Unlike other studies, maternal exposure to conflict does not adversely impact second-generation health indicators. However, I find that paternal exposure does negatively impact children’s health outcomes. A one-unit increase in civilian casualty reduces height-for-age and weight-for-age z-score. This indicates that there are other potential non-biological pathways for future research to consider, such as parenting style, which may shed light on the effects of paternal exposure, particularly within patriarchal societies.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5356173

Working Paper: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5356173 

Recommended Citation: Finan, Olivia. (2025). Conflict to Consequence: The Intergenerational Impact of Civil War. Working Paper, University College Dublin.

Working Paper — Last updated July 2025

We investigate the long-term impact of Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) exposure during early childhood (aged 0 to 16) on human development outcomes in adulthood in the High Mountain Asia (HMA) region. We exploit a unique, comprehensive dataset of historical GLOF incidences to examine the impact of a novel climate shock on human development outcomes in an understudied geographical area that is highly susceptible to climate change and home to vulnerable mountainous communities. Using GIS software analysis, we identify downstream pathways and relative treatment and control areas. Applying OLS with fixed effects, we find that early childhood exposure to GLOF shocks is negatively associated with 1.4 to 1.8 kg/m² lower Body Mass Index (BMI) across all age cohorts and an average decrease of one year of schooling. The novel insights from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the socio-economic costs of hydrological hazards in highly susceptible but largely understudied regions.

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Recommended Citation: Finan, O., Finan, K., Doyle, O. (2025). Climate Hazards, Childhood Experiences, and Development Trajectories: The Long-term Impact of GLOF Exposure. Working Paper, University College Dublin. 

We investigate how South Korea’s cultural exports, collectively known as the Korean Wave, affect foreign student enrollment and tourism flows. Utilizing Google Trends data alongside institutional support measures, we explore the relationship between cultural consumption and inbound exchange flows. Our findings reveal that heightened interest in Korean films and dramas significantly drives student migration, particularly among female students, and boosts tourism. This study highlights cultural diplomacy's economic and educational impacts and adds to the growing literature on international student mobility.

Working Paper coming soon!