Effectiveness of military spending in reducing the intensity of armed conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract This study empirically examines the effectiveness of military spending in reducing the intensity of armed conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa. We use a dynamic probit model, and the results show that military spending reduces the intensity of conflict. It significantly reduces low-intensity conflicts more than high-intensity conflicts. Additionally, the effectiveness of military spending depends on its level and the quality of institutions. Finally, the analysis of transmission channels shows that military spending affects conflict intensity mainly through the channel of military capabilities. We conducted several tests and robustness checks to ensure the validity of our results.