Interstate Military Technological Races and Arms Control Agreements

Abstract

I examine how a nation's absolute and relative position in a race to develop a new weapon affects the intensity of its R&D efforts as well as its incentive to engage in an arms control agreement with its rivals. I find that countries tend to devote more resources to weapons development when they are in a position of technological parity; and that the leader of a race outspends the laggard, but both tend to intensify their efforts when the follower catches up. Moreover, I find that, if the process of R&D is to be restricted through interstate treaties, then such treaties may only be introduced in the beginning stages of the race before any major breakthrough has occurred.