The World War II Veteran Advantage? A Lifetime Cross-Sectional Study of Social Status Attainment

Abstract

The impact of military service on the social status attainment of World War II veterans has been studied since the 1950s; however, the research has failed to come to any consensus with regard to the level of their attainment. Analyses have generally focused on cross-sectional data or longitudinal data without considering the effects of military service over the life course. In this study I argue that World War II veterans had greater social attainment over their lifetimes; that black World War II veterans attained more than white World War II veterans relative to their non-veteran peers; that veterans who served in the latter years of the World War II mobilization attained more than those who served in the earlier years; and that veterans born in cohorts with large proportions of veterans attained more than veterans born to cohorts with smaller proportions of veterans. Social status is measured in terms of education, income, and Duncan Socio-Economic Index. In order to test these hypotheses I use data from the 1950 through 2000 Public Use Microdata Sample. Military service clearly afforded veterans significant advantages through their early and middle working years; however, their non-veteran peers eventually did catch up. Black veterans attained more social status than their non veteran peers throughout their lives. Furthermore, the magnitude of the difference in social status attainment is greater for black veterans relative to their non-veteran peers than the difference for white-veterans relative to their non-veteran peers until very late in the life course. Additionally, peak mobilization phase veterans receive advantage although it is relatively short lived.

Generations of Veterans: Socioeconomic Attainment from World War II to the Contemporary Era

“…According to later work, World War II veterans did earn a premium relative to nonveterans in simple regressions (Angrist and Krueger 1994;Small and Rosenbaum 2008;Teachman and Tedrow 2004). They had higher income and prestige than comparable nonveterans (Smith et al 2012). Yet in regressions that include instrumental variables, veterans either did not differ from nonveterans or earned less, suggesting that the apparent positive association is explained not by employers' choices but by selection into the armed forces (Angrist and Krueger 1994;Small and Rosenbaum 2008).…”

Military Service and Health Outcomes of the Elderly in China

“…As mentioned earlier, there is controversy about the effect of military experience on earnings. Scholars found that military service during World War II boosted the income of U.S. veterans (e.g., Angrist & Krueger, 1994; De Tray, 1982; MacLean & Kleykamp, 2021; Smith et al, 2012), while Vietnam-era veterans earned less (e.g., Angrist, 1990; Spiro et al, 2016; Teachman & Call, 1996). Even so, most of prior studies affirmed the positive effects of military service on the earnings of some socially disadvantaged groups, such as minorities, rural people, and women (Angrist, 1998; Hou et al, 2020; Padavic & Prokos, 2017; Sheehan & Hayward, 2019), because military service tends to help them gain access to elite jobs and narrow gaps in human and social capital.…”

“…As a special experience in the life course, military service had a pervasive and profound impact on men’s socioeconomic status and health outcomes (Angrist, 1990; Fredland & Little, 1985; Kleykamp, 2009; Smith et al, 2012; Zhao & Guo, 2022). While extensive literature assessed the health effects of military service in developed countries (e.g., Angrist et al, 2010; Bedard & Deschênes, 2006; Dobkin & Shabani, 2009; Johnston et al, 2016), few investigated the health status of elderly veterans in the context of developing countries.…”

“…On the other hand, the advantages of veterans are also reflected in enjoying better social welfare and medical resources (Angrist, 1998; Davies et al, 2015; Oh & Berry, 2021; Waller & McGuire, 2011), having more competitive military skills (Johansen et al, 2014; Lindqvist & Vestman, 2011; MacLean, 2017), improving personal qualities and abilities (Angrist & Chen, 2011; Brown & Routon, 2016; Eynde, 2015; L. Wang et al, 2012), obtaining higher socioeconomic status (e.g., Angrist & Krueger, 1994; Bachman et al, 2000; Brown & Routon, 2016; MacLean & Kleykamp, 2021; Sheehan & Hayward, 2019; Smith et al, 2012), and accumulating political resources (Diamant, 2008; Hou et al, 2020; Wakenhut, 1979; Wu & Treiman, 2004). Hence superior external conditions seem to make veterans have better health outcomes.…”

“Our One Great Hope”: The Interdependence of the Woman’s Relief Corps and the Grand Army of the Republic

“… 5 Related, some research finds that veterans are advantaged in some ways upon reentering civilian life, at least initially (e.g., Smith et al, 2012, on World War II veterans). There seems, then, to be some connection here, with Union veterans and their pensions aiding the development of postwar civil society. …”