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Wars of Conquest and Independence

Author

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  • Hentschel, Friedhelm
  • Hodler, Roland
  • Yektas, Hadi

Abstract

Wars of conquest and wars of independence are characterized by an asymmetry in the payoff structure: The production of one party constitutes the winner's prize, while the production of the other party is not contested. We present and solve a model of warfare, which nests this asymmetric payoff structure as well as the standard symmetric payoff structure where the winner gets aggregate production. We use this model to discuss how equilibrium behavior and outcomes depend on resource endowments and military and production technologies in asymmetric wars; and to compare equilibrium behavior and outcomes in symmetric and asymmetric wars. Among others, we find that asymmetric wars are fought less intensively, and that defending countries in wars of conquest and secessionist groups in wars of independence have higher winning probabilities in such asymmetric wars than they would have in standard symmetric wars.

Suggested Citation

  • Hentschel, Friedhelm & Hodler, Roland & Yektas, Hadi, 2015. "Wars of Conquest and Independence," Economics Working Paper Series 1516, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:usg:econwp:2015:16
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Friedhelm Hentschel, 2022. "Third-party intervention in secessions," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 65-82, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Conflict; war; asymmetric contests;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War

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