A Network of Thrones: Kinship and Conflict in Europe, 1495–1918
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 13,
no. 3, July 2021
(pp. 102-33)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
We construct a database linking European royal kinship networks, monarchies, and wars to study the effect of family ties on conflict. To establish causality, we exploit decreases in connection caused by apolitical deaths of rulers' mutual relatives. These deaths are associated with substantial increases in the frequency and duration of war. We provide evidence that these deaths affect conflict only through changing the kinship network. Over our period of interest, the percentage of European monarchs with kinship ties increased threefold. Together, these findings help explain the well-documented decrease in European war frequency.Citation
Benzell, Seth G., and Kevin Cooke. 2021. "A Network of Thrones: Kinship and Conflict in Europe, 1495–1918." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 13 (3): 102-33. DOI: 10.1257/app.20180521Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D74 Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
- N33 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: Europe: Pre-1913
- N34 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: Europe: 1913-
- N43 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Europe: Pre-1913
- N44 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Europe: 1913-
- Z12 Cultural Economics: Religion
- Z13 Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
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