Size of the Military Sector and Economic Growth: A Panel Data Analysis of Africa and Latin America

Journal of Applied Economics, Vol. IV, No. 2, pp. 329-360, November 2001

Posted: 2 Jul 2004

See all articles by Michael D. Stroup

Michael D. Stroup

Stephen F. Austin State University - Department of Economics and Finance

Jac C. Heckelman

Wake Forest University - Department of Economics

Abstract

We estimate the influence of defense spending and military labor use on economic growth in African and Latin American countries. Our model integrates disparate implications from the defense economics literature into a Barro-style model of economic growth that controls for political and economic institutional variation across countries. Our panel data analysis of 44 countries in Africa and Latin America from 1975 to 1989 also controls for cross-country variation in lost human capital and public sector production inefficiencies. We find empirical evidence that the defense burden on economic growth is non-linear, with low levels of military spending increasing economic growth but higher levels of military spending decreasing growth. We also find evidence that the influence of military labor use on growth is non-linear, and exhibits a greater drag on economic growth in those countries with relatively higher levels of adult male education attainment.

Keywords: Defense burden, economic growth

JEL Classification: H5, O4

Suggested Citation

Stroup, Michael D. and Heckelman, Jac C., Size of the Military Sector and Economic Growth: A Panel Data Analysis of Africa and Latin America. Journal of Applied Economics, Vol. IV, No. 2, pp. 329-360, November 2001, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=560381

Michael D. Stroup (Contact Author)

Stephen F. Austin State University - Department of Economics and Finance ( email )

Box 13009, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
United States

Jac C. Heckelman

Wake Forest University - Department of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7505
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
United States
(336) 758-5923 (Phone)
(336) 758-6028 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.wfu.edu/~heckeljc/jac.htm

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