Disarmament And The Economy

The Disarmament Study Series highlights United Nations General Assembly studies in the field of disarmament undertaken by groups of governmental experts. Pursuant of resolution 35/141 of 12 December 1980, this report analyzes the economic and social consequences of the arms race and its extremely harmful effects on world peace and security. It points out that the forces driving the arms race, the purposes it serves, and the various forms of its manifestation, have made it a phenomenon adversely affecting global socio-economic options, because its very continuation presupposes conflict and reinforces confrontation.

This major reference work is a comprehensive critical guide to the large and growing literature on the economics of defence, disarmament and peace. It covers the cost of defence spending and its effects on growth, investment, unemployment, technical change and other aspects of a nation's economic performance. It includes material on the determinants of defence spending namely defence budgets, programme budgeting and procurement policy. It also deals with the economic impact of arms limitation, disarmament and the conversion from military production to products with peaceful uses.