Economists for Peace and Security

The Economics of Peace and Security Journal

Recent Issues

eps journal
A publication by Economists for Peace and Security

Trade, openness, and domestic conflict: an empirical investigation for Latin America
Prasad S. Bhattacharya and Dimitrios D. Thomakos

Vol 2, No 2 - Symposia: Water, Trade, Insurgency, July 2007

'Trade, openness, and domestic conflict: an empirical investigation for Latin America.' The article reports results of an empirical investigation into trade, openness, and domestic conflict for several Latin American countries. It addresses two main issues: (1) whether variations in trade openness affect the likelihood of the onset of domestic conflict and (2) once initiated, how variations in openness affect conflict duration. For the period 1973- 1995, and controlling for numerous sociopolitical, institutional, and economic factors, our findings suggest that (1) increased trade openness reduces the chance for domestic conflict onset as well as the intensity of domestic conflict and (2) over-reliance on agricultural exports, which can be a consequence of increased openness, is the main factor sustaining conflict. Conflict mitigation policies should keep in mind the role tradable agricultural goods play in this region of the world.

You do not have access to the full text of this article. You may purchase the article (individual articles are priced at £3 each and will be emailed to you as a PDF file after payment is received.)

To purchase this article please click the purchase link shown.

Alternatively please subscribe to the journal.

Return to the contents page.

You are logged in as guest. Some issues may not be available.