Publication

This paper provides an economic account of demand for small arms as a response to politico-economic motivations arising from polarization and rent-seeking. The paper first provides a theoretical framework on the economics of small arms demand, with an elaboration of the concepts of polarization and rent-seeking. Second, the paper applies this framework to a case study of Haiti and outlines econometric results with data from a cross-section of countries in Latin America. The author argues that disarmament programs need to address the sources of polarization and rent-seeking in order to have a lasting effect.