Military Expenditure: International Comparison of Trends

IMF Working Papers, May 1, 1991

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Military Expenditure: International Comparison of Trends

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Bibliographic details

• Authors: Daniel P. Hewitt
• Published: May 1, 1991
• Series: IMF Working Papers
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451847420.001

Overview

• Author: Daniel P. Hewitt
• Publication date: May 1, 1991
• Paper type: IMF Working Paper (Working Paper No. 1991/054)
• Core objective: Analyze trends in world military expenditure by examining shares of different country groups and the ratio to GDP of individual nations.

Coverage and data

• Geographic/temporal coverage: Military expenditures in 125 countries from 1972 to 1988.
• Comparisons included:
  • Military expenditures as a proportion of central government expenditures.
  • Budgetary trade-offs among military, social, and development expenditures.
• Data sources/terminology noted in metadata: Adjusted SIPRI (listed among keywords).

Key analyses and focal points

• Examination of shares of different country groups in world military expenditure.
• Analysis of the ratio of military expenditure to GDP for individual nations.
• Comparison of military expenditures relative to central government expenditure levels.
• Analysis of budgetary trade-offs between:
  • Military expenditures
  • Social expenditures
  • Development expenditures
• Discussion of the impact of military expenditures on economic development.

Policy implications and themes

• The paper addresses implications for:
  • Budget planning and preparation
  • Central government spending and public financial management (PFM)
  • Public employment and labor considerations
  • Expenditure patterns and expenditure cutback strategies across regions, including Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa