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THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF THE PORTUGUESE COLONIAL WAR, 1961-1974: ANALYSIS AND APPLIED STUDY
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 October 2021
Abstract
This article presents estimates of the financial costs incurred by Portugal with the Colonial War (1961-1974). The results obtained show that, on average, the extraordinary expenses most directly related with the war represented 22% of Portuguese state expenditure, equivalent to 3.1% of GDP. They also show that the total costs incurred by Portugal with the Colonial War amounted to between 21.8 billion euros and 29.8 billion euros, at today's prices and in the present-day currency. By estimating a dynamic model, it was also possible to identify a positive relationship between the extraordinary military expenditure on the defence and security of the overseas provinces—which included the budgetary costs of war—and Portuguese economic growth. The conclusions reached represent a valuable contribution to contemporary economic history.
Resumen
Este artículo presenta las estimaciones de los costes financieros asumidos por Portugal en la Guerra Colonial (1961-1974). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que, como media, los gastos extraordinarios más directamente relacionados con la guerra representaron el 22% del gasto estatal portugués, equivalente al 3,1% del PIB. También muestran que los costes totales asumidos por Portugal en la Guerra Colonial ascendieron a entre 21.800 millones de euros y 29.800 millones de euros, cifras equivalentes a los precios de hoy día y en la moneda actual. Al estimar un modelo dinámico, también fue posible identificar una relación positiva entre el gasto militar extraordinario en defensa y seguridad de las provincias de ultramar, que incluía los costes presupuestarios de la guerra, y el crecimiento económico portugués. Las conclusiones alcanzadas representan una valiosa contribución a la historia económica contemporánea.
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- Type
- Articles/Artículos
- Information
- Revista de Historia Economica - Journal of Iberian and Latin American Economic History , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , September 2022 , pp. 243 - 272
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Instituto Figuerola, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Footnotes
The Research Centre of Economic and Social History (GHES/Lisbon School of Economics & Management). Centre for Research and Development in Industrial Engineering, Management and Sustainability (EIGeS/Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies). [email protected]
References
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