Military expenditure,economic growth and structural instability: a case study of South Africa

This paper contributes to the growing literature on the milex-growth nexus, by providing a case study of South Africa and considering the possibility of structural breaks by applying newly developed econometric methods. Using full sample bootstrap Granger non-causality tests, no Granger causal link is found between military expenditure and GDP for 1951–2010, but parameter instability tests show the estimated VARs to be unstable. Using a bootstrap rolling window estimation procedure, however, finds evidence of bidirectional Granger causality in various subsamples. This implies standard Granger non-causality tests, which neither account for structural breaks nor time variation may be invalid.     

Book reviews

The Political Economy of Defense, Ross A. L. (ed), Greenwood Press, 1991, New York. pp. ix, 229; ISBN 0–313–26462–7, Price $47.95

Economie Politique de la Defense, Jacques Aben, (Paris: Editions Cujas, 1992, 170 pages, 120 French Francs, ISBN: 2–254–92723‐X)     

THE ‘EXPANDING TORRENT’: BRITISH MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION

In May 2012, Zambia's Inspector-General of Police announced a crackdown on sex workers. This commentary discusses the rationale behind this proposed crackdown and the problems associated with such a policy response.