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Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. Are embargoes effective?

Author

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  • Raul Caruso

    (Department of Economic Policy and CSEA, Catholic University of Sacred Heart CESPIC, Catholic University 'Our Lady of Good Counsel')

  • Adelaide Baronchelli

    (University of Verona)

  • Roberto Ricciuti

    (University of Verona)

Abstract

This paper analyses the trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) from 1990 to 2017. Our analysis relies on an unbalanced panel of 79,245 observations reporting SALW transfers between 9,275 pairs of countries. In particular, we study the impact of embargoes on trade in SALW. We test different channels through which arms embargoes may affect trade in SALW. We use a gravity model framework where we include beside traditional gravity variables also controls specific to trade in SALW. Results show that (i) embargoes reduce SALW imports of target country; (ii) there is no evidence of sanctions-busting because imports neighbor countries do not seem to be positively affected; (iii) Imports of sport arms – which can be subject to fewer restrictions - appear to be unrelated to sanctions, indicating that the trade in this type of weapon may be still quite unrestricted.

Suggested Citation

  • Raul Caruso & Adelaide Baronchelli & Roberto Ricciuti, 2020. "Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. Are embargoes effective?," Working Papers 1009, European Centre of Peace Science, Integration and Cooperation (CESPIC), Catholic University 'Our Lady of Good Counsel'.
    • Handle: RePEc:pea:wpaper:1009
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    Cited by:

    1. Adelaide Baronchelli & Raul Caruso, 2023. "Italian small arms exports: between incentives and international sanctions," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(3), pages 1075-1106, October.
    2. Raul Caruso, 2021. "Economic Statecraft: from Negative Sanctions to Positive Sanctions," Working Papers 1010, European Centre of Peace Science, Integration and Cooperation (CESPIC), Catholic University 'Our Lady of Good Counsel'.
    3. Dizaji, Sajjad Faraji & Murshed, Syed Mansoob, 2024. "External arms embargoes and their implications for government expenditure, democracy and internal conflict," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    4. Apeti, Ablam Estel & N’Doua, Bossoma Doriane, 2023. "The impact of timber regulations on timber and timber product trade," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    5. Daria Suprunenko, 2024. "Not-so-innocent bystanders: Trade with neighbors of sanctioned countries," IEER Working Papers 123, Institute of Empirical Economic Research, Osnabrueck University.
    6. Baronchelli, Adelaide & Caruso, Raul, 2024. "Did CIA interventions increase US arms exports? Evidence from the Cold War (1962–1989)," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Small arms and light weapons; Gravity model; Sanctions; Embargoes.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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