Economics of Arms Trade: What Do We Know?

Abstract

AbstractTaking an economic perspective, and underpinned by a literature review, this chapter analyses the development of explicit sets of relationships between dependent and independent variables in the international arms trade from 1995 onwards. We distinguish five main categories within the markets of military and dual-use goods and services, comprising weapons of mass destruction, major weapon systems, small arms and light weapons, dual-use goods, and services. Per category, papers are ordered by research type and methodology. Based on our findings thus far, the final section of the chapter offers a research agenda for further studies.