NES CSDSI & HSE ICSID Research Seminar on diversity and development joint with HSE Seminar on Political Economy.

Speaker: Natalia Naumenko (Brown University, MAE'2012), "Demographic Consequences of the 1933 Soviet Famine"

Abstract: 

Using recently discovered archival data, this article studies the impact of the 1933 Soviet famine on population and urbanization patterns. It documents that, although most of the direct victims lived in rural areas, the famine had a persistent negative impact on the urban population. In fact, the rural population gradually recovered while urban settlements in more affected areas became permanently smaller. The paper argues that the shortage of labor during the crucial years of rapid industrialization hindered the development of cities in areas struck by the famine. Thus, the timing of the shock to population appears to be an important factor. While established urban networks tend to recover from large temporary negative shocks, the lack of people during construction and rapid growth might have a permanent negative impact.

 Registration: till noon of December 4.