The Persistence of Weapons: Global Evidence

Abstract

This article investigates persistence (or hysteresis) in weapons using a panel of 163 countries for the period 2010‐15. The following are some main findings: (1) compared to countries that are landlocked, persistence in heavy weapons is more apparent in nations that are open to the sea; (2) relative to the Middle East and North Africa, heavy weapons are more persistent in the East Asia and the Pacific countries. This tendency is consistent with “weapons imports;” (3) evidence of persistence is not very apparent in “weapons imports” with the exception of the fact that it is higher in low‐income countries, compared to their high‐income counterparts. Hence, there is less hysteresis in weapons exports when compared with heavy weapons exports; and (4) the determinants of persistence employed in the conditioning information set are contingent on fundamental characteristics and panels. Policy implications are discussed. Related Articles Beal, Amanda L., and Leah Graham. 2014. “Foundations for Change: Rule of Law, Development, and Democratization.” Politics & Policy 42 (3): 311‐345. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12077 Fails, Matthew D. 2014. “Leader Turnover, Volatility, and Political Risk.” Politics & Policy 42 (3): 369‐399. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12078 Jakubow, Alexander. 2014. “State Intervention and Life Satisfaction Reconsidered: The Role of Governance Quality and Resource Misallocation.” Politics & Policy 42 (1): 3‐36. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12057 Peev, Evgeni, and Dennis C. Mueller. 2013. “Democracy, Economic Freedom and Growth in Transition Economies.” Kyklos 65 (3): 371‐407. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-6435.2012.00543.x/abstract Siddiqui, Danish A., and Qazi M. Ahmed. 2013. “The Effect of Institutions on Economic Growth: A Global Analysis Based on GMM Dynamic Panel Estimation.” Structural Change and Economic Dynamics 24: 18‐33. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0954349X12000902

Drivers and Persistence of Death in Conflicts: Global Evidence

“…These fundamental features of comparative economic development have been documented in comparative development studies(Narayan et al, 2011;Beegle et al, 2016;Mlachila et al, 2017;Asongu & le Roux, 2017). The above comparative features are discussed in more detail in the subsequent paragraphs.First, consistent with the argument ofAsongu et al (2020a) that income levels elucidate the persistence of weapons and…”

“…Third, as argued in contemporary comparative literature (Asongu & Nwachukwu, 2017b) (Schmid, 1992;Eubank & Weinberg, 1994;Drakos & Gofas, 2006;Piazza, 2017Piazza, , 2018Lai, 2007;Asongu et al, 2020aAsongu et al, , 2020b. In summary, the nexus between religion and deaths from conflicts, owing to political instability is elicited in this paragraph using both intuition and the relevant studies.…”

“…Though some of these conflicts are not in the sampled periodicity, there are recurrent pockets of political unrest across the region. The relative importance of SSA in political instability and violence is summarized by Asongu (2014b): "seven of the nine cases of total chaos and 1 Another strand of the literature that has used the same dataset but has focused on different problem statements includes studies focusing on: the persistence of terrorism (Asongu, 2020) and incarcerations (Asongu, 2019); persistence of weapons (Asongu, Uduji & Okolo-Obasi, 2020a); contemporary drivers of global tourism (Asongu, Nnanna, Biekpe & Acha-Anyi, 2019); the right to life (Asongu & Nwachukwu, 2019) and the murder or homicide epidemic (Asongu & Acha-Anyi, 2019a). This study departs from the attendant studies by focusing on drivers and persistence of death in conflicts around the world.…”

“…Fourth, building on the law and economic development literature (La Porta et al, 1998, 1999Beck et al, 2013; Fifth, regarding income levels, high income nations are less associated with persistence in deaths from conflicts because they are less linked to political instability, civil wars, political strife and violence (Asongu et al, 2020a). Moreover, even in event of political instability and terror, high income countries have the financial resources with which to dampen the unfavourable political externalities that such as loss in human life (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2009;Asongu et al, 2020b).…”

Does Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) Contribute to Youth Development in Informal Farm Entrepreneurship? Evidence from Rural Communities in Nigeria

“…The positioning of the study in response to the testable hypothesis contributes to the growing literature on the relevance of information technology in development outcomes (Chavula, 2013;Carmody, 2013;Afutu-Kotey et al 2017;Tchamyou & Asongu, 2017;Bongomin et al 2018;Asongu et al, 2020aAsongu et al, , 2020bAsongu et al, , 2020cGosavi, 2018;Isszhaku et al 2018;Asongu & Asongu, 2018;Hubani & Wiese, 2018;Uduji et al, 2020aUduji et al, , 2020bUduji et al, , 2020cUduji et al, , 2020dMinkoua Nzie et al 2018;Asongu et al, 2019aAsongu et al, , 2019bAsongu et al, , 2019cAsongu et al, , 2019dAbor et al 2018;Tchamyou, 2019Tchamyou, , 2020Tchamyou et al, 2019aTchamyou et al, , 2019bMuthinja & Chipeta, 2018;Uduji & Okolo-Obasi, 2020;Uduji et al, 2018aUduji et al, , 2018bUgwuanyi et al, 2020;Rashiti et al, 2017;Dana, 2011;Ramsdani et al, 2019;Nikopoulos & Dana, 2017;Mason et al, 2009;Dana, 2007).…”