Combining data on military demand and supply for arms production estimates

Abstract

Currently there exist no data series comparing arms production values among countries. The article outlines three methods for generating such data series based largely on already available data series relevant to arms production, in particular series on arms imports and exports, procurement, and turnover figures from the world’s largest arms producing companies. All three methods have major shortcomings and limitations but with additional effort in data collection they can provide a basis for comparing arms production values among countries as well as for regional and global totals. Furthermore, as the three methods use different definitions of the scope of arms production, comparison of the data produced by them can provide additional insights.