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The Economic Cost of the War in Sri Lanka

Author

Listed:
  • Nisha Arunatilake

    (Department of Economics and Finance, La Trobe University)

  • Sisira Kumara Jayasuriya

    (Department of Economics and Finance, La Trobe University)

  • Saman Kelegama

    (Department of Economics and Finance, La Trobe University)

Abstract

There is growing interest in recent years in the economic dimensions of civil wars and other violent social conflicts. This paper discusses some of the conceptual and methodological problems associated with assessing the economic costs of such conflicts, and presents an evaluation of the costs of the (still ongoing) conflict in Sri Lanka. On conservative assumptions, the war may have cost the equivalent of twice Sri Lanka's 1996 GDP.

Suggested Citation

  • Nisha Arunatilake & Sisira Kumara Jayasuriya & Saman Kelegama, 1999. "The Economic Cost of the War in Sri Lanka," Working Papers 1999.10, School of Economics, La Trobe University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ltr:wpaper:1999.10
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deger, Saadet, 1986. "Economic Development and Defense Expenditure," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 35(1), pages 179-196, October.
    2. Meghan O'Sullivan, 1997. "Household entitlements during wartime: The experience of Sri Lanka," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 95-121.
    3. Collier, Paul & Hoeffler, Anke, 1998. "On Economic Causes of Civil War," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 50(4), pages 563-573, October.
    4. Grobar, Lisa Morris & Gnanaselvam, Shiranthi, 1993. "The Economic Effects of the Sri Lankan Civil War," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 41(2), pages 395-405, January.
    5. Mizon, Grayham E., 1995. "A simple message for autocorrelation correctors: Don't," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 267-288, September.
    6. Lim, David, 1983. "Another Look at Growth and Defense in Less Developed Countries," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(2), pages 377-384, January.
    7. Premachandra Athukorala, 1995. "Foreign Direct Investment and Manufacturing for Export in a New Exporting Country: The Case of Sri Lanka," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(4), pages 543-564, July.
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