In this paper we seek to answer the question: why governments engage in mass killing? Tullock (1974) gives gain or avoidance of loss as the motive. We construct a three-stage theoretic framework to explain the choice of a ruler of a country. The conditions that must be met for mass killing...

1. Economics and defence policy : an overview -- 2. How do economists analyse defence? -- 3. The case for defence -- 4. Defence budgets -- 5. The determinants of defence expenditure -- 6. Economics, politics and public choice analysis -- 7. Equipment procurement policy -- 8. NATO and equipment...

The Handbook on the Economics of Conflict conveys how economics can contribute to the understanding of conflict in its various dimensions embracing world wars, regional conflicts, terrorism and the role of peacekeeping in conflict prevention. The economics of conflict is a relatively new branch...