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Explaining the Worldwide Decline in Military Conscription: 1970-2010

Author

Listed:
  • Danko Tarabar

    (West Virginia University, Department of Economics)

  • Joshua C. Hall

    (West Virginia University, Department of Economics)

Abstract

We empirically investigate the determinants of the decline in compulsory military service (conscription) from 1970 to 2010 using data on military conscription from the Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) index. We find that the probability of a shorter military service time is strongly associated with the percentage of the population over the age of 65 and the size of government, while the presence of political violence works in the opposite direction. Our results are robust to dynamic panel and ordered probit estimations.

Suggested Citation

  • Danko Tarabar & Joshua C. Hall, 2015. "Explaining the Worldwide Decline in Military Conscription: 1970-2010," Working Papers 15-30, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    • Handle: RePEc:wvu:wpaper:15-30
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    File URL: http://busecon.wvu.edu/phd_economics/pdf/15-30.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    conscription; economic freedom; ordered probit; all volunteer force;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War

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