Military Expenditures 1972-1990: The Reasons Behind the Post-1985 Fall in World Military Spending

IMF Working Papers, March 1, 1993

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Military Expenditures 1972-1990: The Reasons Behind the Post-1985 Fall in World Military Spending

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Bibliographic details

• Authors: Daniel P. Hewitt
• Published: March 1, 1993
• Series: IMF Working Papers
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451843590.001

Executive summary

• World military expenditures have fallen by over 20 percent in proportion to GDP from 1985 to 1990.
• The study examines determinants of military expenditures in 125 countries during 1972-90 to identify factors behind the post-1985 decreases.

Key findings

• Economic decline:
  • Economic decline among developing countries in the 1980s emerges as one possible factor.
  • Economic decline among industrial countries in the later part of the decade emerges as a possible factor.
• Political regime change:
  • The move towards more democratic regimes is identified as a factor that could diminish support for the military.
• Geopolitical/security environment:
  • An improved world security situation is identified as a factor.
  • A concomitant decrease in military aid by the former major cold war combatants is identified as a contributing factor.

Study scope and methodology

• Coverage:
  • 125 countries.
  • Period: 1972-90.
• Publication metadata:
  • Pages: 42.
  • Series: Working Paper No. 1993/018.
  • Issue: 018.
  • Volume: 1993.
  • ISBN: 9781451843590.
  • ISSN: 1018-5941.
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451843590.001.
  • Author: Daniel P. Hewitt.
  • Date: March 1, 1993.

Themes and subject classifications

• Subjects:
  • Central government spending, Defense spending, Expenditure, National accounts, Personal income, Population and demographics, Public financial management (PFM).
• Keywords:
  • central government, Central government spending, civil war, country equation, Defense spending, Eastern Europe, form of government, Middle East, military expenditure, net creditor nation, North Africa, North African country, Personal income, proportion of GDP, Sub-Saharan Africa, transition country, Western Hemisphere, WP.

IMF Working Paper No. 1993/018 — Daniel P. Hewitt, "Military Expenditures 1972-1990: The Reasons Behind the Post-1985 Fall in World Military Spending", March 1, 1993.