Beyond the Battlefield: The Impact of War on Expatriates’ Health and Livelihoods
Author:
Posted: 10 November 2026
Abstract
We study how expatriates cope when conflict breaks out in their homeland. Using Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion and a matched difference-in-differences design, comparing incumbent Ukrainian migrants in Sweden with migrants of other origins, we find a persistent increase in psychiatric medication alongside higher labor earnings. Ukrainians work more months and take on second jobs, and job seekers exit unemployment faster but accept lower wages at lower-paying firms. The earnings effects are concentrated among migrants from more war-exposed regions, while medication effects attenuate in municipalities receiving more Ukrainian refugees. The results replicate in European and US survey data.