This Element surveys the field of defense, peace, and war economics with particular emphasis on the contributions made by Austrian economists. I first review treatments of defense, peace, and war by the classical economists. I then discuss the rise of a distinct and systematic defense, peace,...

This survey explores some of the institutional and political factors that set the underlying conditions for the emergence of conflict. The political economy perspective offered here differs from other important surveys and analyses of the same topic, which have focused on the ethnic dimensions...

This paper analyzes the economic reconstruction of Iraq following the 2003, U.S-led invasion. Tracing the foundations and trajectory of the reconstruction, I explain how efforts have fallen prey to the four reconstruction traps identified by Coyne and Pellillo (2010). These traps have hampered...

By defining political economy and war in the broadest sense, this unique Handbook brings together a wide range of interdisciplinary scholars from economics, political science, sociology, and policy studies to address a multitude of important topics. These include an analysis of why wars begin,...

In 1919, in the wake of the Central Power’s defeat in World War I, Ludwig von Mises published his second book, Nation, State, and Economy. The book explores the consequences of war and the type of political and economic arrangements likely to generate a lasting peace in the future. This paper...