Defense Spending, Conflict and Economic Growth in Europe
Journal: Peace Economics Peace Science and Public Policy
Year: 2025

Abstract This study seeks to answer the following research question: How do defense spending and conflict impact economic growth in Europe, and what role does NATO membership play in shaping these dynamics? Using a panel dataset of 40 European countries from 1999 to 2023, the analysis investigates a change in security dynamics in Europe post-2014, determinants of military expenditure, whether NATO’s influence is more pronounced for countries closer to Russia, and how military expenditure and con