Your task in this assignment is to critically analyse the article that follows. Evaluate
the research design, research methods and highlight any imprecisions or pitfalls in the
interpretation of the results using econometric concepts that you have been learning.
Below there are a series of questions to guide you through this review exercise. You are
expected to answer these questions.
i What is the research question of this paper? Provide a short summary of the paper
that demonstrates you understood the research design. Clearly explain which group(s)
is the group of interest (‘treatment group’) and which group is the comparison group.
ii Describe the structure of the data and the meaning of age, cohort and period effects.
iii Are the research hypotheses reasonably addressed by the data and the analysis?
iv What analysis would you perform to test whether the hypotheses are robust?
v Discuss the purpose of the placebo test and its results. Do you find it convincing?
vi Find as many limitations and counterarguments to the current interpretation of the
results.
You are free to choose the format of your review. One suggestion is to use the questions
above as section headings. You should indicate clearly to which section, page or table of
the article your comments refer to. You can corroborate your comments by academic and
non-academic literature.

Growing up during conflict is
a setback to peace
Do not circulate
Elisa Cavatorta ∗ Ben Groom † Negar Habibi ‡
May 17, 2020
Abstract
Palestinians who experienced the violent episode of the Second Intifada when
they were young adults or adolescents show stronger support for violent action compared to other age groups. The increase in support counters the otherwise declining
support for violence seen over time, in successive cohorts and as people get older.
The evidence, which separates out age, period and cohort effects, supports the impressionable years hypothesis and shows that the Second Intifada caused a set-back
for this group of young adults, whose increased support for violence could persist
for over 40 years until returning to the average for their age. The effect is even more
stark for adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of experiences during
adolescence and young adulthood in general, but also could help direct public policy
that aims to halt the cycle of violence.
Keywords: conflict; violence; Palestine; cohort analysis.