Defence Expenditure: Data Issues and Sources
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Defence Expenditure: Data Issues and Sources Libia Billordo Department of Political Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-24880, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
The validity, utility and comparability of different defence-spending figures in France is assessed. Several institutions provide defence-spending data, yet they rely on different sources to either supply or estimate these figures, as well as on each country’s characterization of what constitutes defence-spending. Despite the importance of such a measure in the comprehension of defence-spending trends, a lack of standardization in the definition of defence-spending can be observed. In the case of France, official data related to defence expenditures are marked by (a) the non-inclusion of pesions, (b) the inclusion of research and development costs in the defence budget, and (c) the inclusion of the ‘gendamerie’ as a part of the defence forces. French Politics (2003) 1, 377–387. doi:10.1057/palgrave.fp.8200044 Keywords: defence-spending; military expenditure; defence-expenditure data; defence-expenditure sources
Introduction This essay will appraise the validity, utility, and comparability of defencespending figures for France. In general, defence-spending data have been utilized to assess: (a) a country’s military capability; (b) its defence policies, (c) future intentions; and (d) its role in the international security field. Several institutions provide defence-spending data, yet they rely on different sources either to supply or estimate these figures, as well as on each country’s characterization of what constitutes defence spending. Despite the importance of such a measure in the comprehension of trends, a lack of standardization in the definition of defence spending can be observed. This essay will examine (a) the variation among definitions; (b) the reliability of defence-spending figures; and (c) the comparability raised by the preceding. It will present recent data for France drawn from different sources, and place those into a comparative context (synchronic and diachronic).
Definitions Several institutions disseminate defence expenditure or military expenditure figures, yet a lack of standardization of the definition of defence spending can
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be observed. Most of these institutions rely on national authorities for the reporting of figures, yet each country possesses a different view of what constitutes defence spending. Thus, it is worth noting the different concepts employed such as: (a) defence spending or defence expenditure, (b) military expenditure, and c) defence budgets. Defence spending and military expenditure While defence spending and defence expenditure are terms employed interchangeably, the conceptualization of military expenditure differs slightly. Defence spending refers to the amount of funds that a country allocates to measures that will protect its national security. Military expenditure has been defined by Stockholm International Peace Res
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