On war intensity and schooling attainment: The case of Bosnia and Herzegovina

•This paper identifies war intensity effects of the Bosnian War on schooling attainment.•Cohorts that endured greater war intensity are less likely to complete secondary schooling.•Results are mainly driven by older male cohorts who are eligible for the military draft.

This paper identifies war intensity effects of the 1992-1995 Bosnian War on schooling attainment, and explores possible channels of influence. Empirical identification relies on spatial variation in war intensity and variation in birth cohorts. I find that cohorts that endured greater war intensity are less likely to complete secondary schooling but not primary schooling. These effects are much stronger for males than for females, and draftee male cohorts experience deterioration in their physical and mental health relative to female and non-draftee cohorts, suggesting that the military draft may play an important role. Other possible mechanisms do not seem to matter.