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Self-Enforcing Peace Agreements that Preserve the Status Quo

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  • Garfinkel, Michelle

    (University of California, Irvine)

  • Syropoulos, Constantinos

    (Drexel University)

Abstract

On the basis of a single-period, guns-versus-butter, complete-information model in which two agents dispute control over an insecure portion of their combined output, we study the choice between a peace agreement that maintains the status quo without arming (or unarmed peace) and open conflict (or war) that is possibly destructive. With a focus on outcomes that are immune to both unilateral deviations and coalitional deviations, we find that, depending on war's destructive effects, the degree of output security and the initial distribution of resources, peace can, but need not necessarily, emerge in equilibrium. We also find that, while ex ante resource transfers without commitment can improve the prospects for peace, war remains the unique equilibrium in pure strategies when the initial distribution of resources is sufficiently uneven.

Suggested Citation

  • Garfinkel, Michelle & Syropoulos, Constantinos, 2020. "Self-Enforcing Peace Agreements that Preserve the Status Quo," School of Economics Working Paper Series 2020-7, LeBow College of Business, Drexel University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:drxlwp:2020_007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. McBride, Michael & Skaperdas, Stergios, 2014. "Conflict, settlement, and the shadow of the future," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 75-89.
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    6. Michelle R. Garfinkel & Constantinos Syropoulos, 2019. "Problems of commitment in arming and war: how insecurity and destruction matter," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 349-369, March.
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    16. Garfinkel, Michelle R. & Syropoulos, Constantinos, 2020. "Inequality and conflict: Burning resources to support peace," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
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    1. Garfinkel, Michelle R. & Syropoulos, Constantinos, 2020. "Inequality and conflict: Burning resources to support peace," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    2. Michelle R. Garfinkel & Constantinos Syropoulos, 2022. "International Trade and Stable Resolutions of Resource Disputes," CESifo Working Paper Series 10040, CESifo.
    3. Rabah Arezki & Markus Brueckner, 2021. "Natural Resources and Civil Conflict: The Role of Military Expenditures," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Disputes; output insecurity; destructive wars; peaceful settlement; unarmed peace;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions

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