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Global Arms Trade and Oil Dependence

Author

Listed:
  • Vincenzo Bove

    (University of Warwick)

  • Claudio Deiana

    (University of Essex)

  • Roberto Nisticò

    (Università di Napoli Federico II and CSEF)

Abstract

We provide novel empirical models of the arms trade and focus on the role of energy dependence, in particular of oil, in explaining the trade of weapons between countries. Dramatic geopolitical events such as wars can cause significant disruptions in the supply of oil and increase oil prices. Oil-dependent economies have therefore incentives to provide security by selling or giving away arms to oil-rich countries and reduce the risk of instability. We find strong empirical support for this claim using data on international transfers of major weapons and information on global and local oil dependence, oil reserves and oil discoveries.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincenzo Bove & Claudio Deiana & Roberto Nisticò, 2016. "Global Arms Trade and Oil Dependence," CSEF Working Papers 452, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy, revised 10 Feb 2018.
  • Handle: RePEc:sef:csefwp:452
    Note: A former version of this paper was circulated under the title "Energy (in)security and the Arms Trade"
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    Cited by:

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    4. Olaf J de Groot & Carlos Bozzoli & Anousheh Alamir & Tilman Brück, 2022. "The global economic burden of violent conflict," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 59(2), pages 259-276, March.
    5. Giacomo Battiston & Matteo Bizzarri & Riccardo Franceschin, 2021. "Third-Party Interest, Resource Value, and the Likelihood of Conflict," CSEF Working Papers 631, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy, revised 20 Jun 2022.
    6. Michael Lebacher & Paul W. Thurner & Göran Kauermann, 2021. "Censored regression for modelling small arms trade volumes and its ‘Forensic’ use for exploring unreported trades," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 70(4), pages 909-933, August.
    7. Auer, Daniel & Meierrieks, Daniel, 2021. "Merchants of death: Arms imports and terrorism," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    8. Ben Youssef, Slim, 2021. "Symmetric and asymmetric relationships between renewable energy, oil imports, arms exports, military spending, and economic growth in China," MPRA Paper 111413, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Pamp, Oliver & Lebacher, Michael & Thurner, Paul W. & Ziegler, Eva, 2021. "Explaining destinations and volumes of international arms transfers: A novel network Heckman selection model," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    10. Adelaide Baronchelli & Raul Caruso & Roberto Ricciuti, 2022. "Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons: Are embargoes effective?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 1336-1361, May.
    11. Ben Youssef, Slim, 2020. "The relationships between renewable energy, net energy imports, arms exports, and military expenditures in the USA," MPRA Paper 110959, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Callado-Muñoz Francisco J. & Hromcová Jana & Utrero-González Natalia, 2019. "Trade and Military Alliances: Evidence from NATO," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 25(4), pages 1-8, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Arms Trade; Oil; Security;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F50 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - General
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • Q34 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Natural Resources and Domestic and International Conflicts

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