Abstract
Wiberg, H. Measuring Military Expenditures: Purposes, Methods, Sources. Coop eration and Conflict, XVIII, 1983, 161-177.
The study of military power, balance, capability, etc. is a field in which many central concepts and also the conduct of empirical research might appear similar to those in natural science. A closer look at the empirical bases of this research, however, reveals a number of pitfalls. This article surveys the most important data sources for military expenditures and armaments. Definitions, sources of bias and methodology are dis cussed in the light of these sources; significant variation is found between publications. The importance of this variation seems to be greater for developing countries than for industrialized countries; it is especially crucial for the study of OPEC and socialist countries. It is more significant for the study of the most recent years than previous periods. Besides these factors, the choice of sources should depend on the qualities one wishes to stress: the sources also vary in regard to accuracy, completeness and the political controversiality of issues.
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