Conflict and the identification of the Least Developed Countries: Theoretical and statistical considerations

Ana Luiza Cortez and Namsuk Kim ()

CDP Background Papers from United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs

Abstract: This paper reviews conflict as one of potential factors that could be incorporated in the identification of least developed countries (LDCs). It is not clear whether conflict can be considered as a structurally predetermined handicap as those identified in LDC criteria. More importantly, even if countries may be caught in a conflict trap, adding conflict indicators to the LDC criteria does not provide additional insights to enhance our understanding of the category . And adding conflict indicators is unlikely to introduce changes in country classification. Many of the factors associated with conflict are already incorporated in the indicators used to identify LDCs, and, therefore, the inclusion of an explicit conflict indicator ? to capture the risk of falling into conflict.

Keywords: Conflict; Least Developed Countries; Country classification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 F35 O19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2012-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:une:cpaper:013

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