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Military spending, fiscal capacity and the democracy puzzle

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  • Rota, Mauro

Abstract

This article elucidates the complex and occasionally counter-intuitive effects of the twin phenomena of democratization and modernization on the path of military spending between 1880 and 1938 by analyzing the relationship between various traits of democracy and the state's fiscal capacity. The conclusion, in the spirit of Kant, is that it is political participation which is most effective in reducing military spending. Other elements of democracy play a distant secondary role. In addition, fiscal capacity, which often emerges and increases in tandem with democratization, is identified as one of the major determinants of defense outlays, although its impact decreased between the two World Wars.

Suggested Citation

  • Rota, Mauro, 2016. "Military spending, fiscal capacity and the democracy puzzle," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 41-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:60:y:2016:i:c:p:41-51
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2015.11.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Miguel Niño-Zarazúa & Alma Santillán Hernández, 2023. "Aid's impact on social protection in low- and middle-income countries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-110, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. J. Paul Dunne & Nan Tian, 2019. "Military Expenditures and Economic Growth," School of Economics Macroeconomic Discussion Paper Series 2019-05, School of Economics, University of Cape Town.
    4. Geloso, Vincent J. & Salter, Alexander W., 2020. "State capacity and economic development: Causal mechanism or correlative filter?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 372-385.
    5. Kramer, Bert S. & Milionis, Petros, 2022. "Democratic constraints and adherence to the classical gold standard," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. Tamisai Chipunza & Senia Nhamo, 2023. "Fiscal capacity and public health expenditure in Zimbabwe," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 2175459-217, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Military spending; Democracy; State capacity; Political participation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative

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