The Sources of Humanitarian Emergencies

Abstract

This study identifies the sources of humanitarian emergencies characterized by warfare, displacement, hunger, and disease. The authors emphasize that economic variables often become salient through relative deprivation. Their econometric analysis indicates that stagnation and decline in real GDP, a high ratio of military expenditures to national income, a tradition of violent conflict, high income inequality, and slow growth in average food production are sources of emergencies. Also, inflation and low levels of IMF funding are associated with emergencies, although the direction of causation may be opposite.