The flight of the white collars

By analyzing two novel data sets from Turkey, we provide empirical evidence for yet another negative consequence of civil conflicts. We show that the long running civil cinflict in Turkey has been driving away doctors and other medical personnel from conflict areas, and the availability of medical personal is positively associated with public health. By doing so, we illuminate an important, yet never analyzed before mechanism through which civil conflicts exert their long-term negative influences on the most important "life chances" of societies, namely, the chance to lead a healthy life. We then proceed to provide some evidence that a similar dynamic is in play in education as well.