James Boyce’s Video Series ‘The Economics of War and Peace’ Named a Finalist for Anthem Community Voice Awards – UMass Amherst

Economic Analysis of Conflict and Peace Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Award-Nominated Series on the Economics of Peace

A seven-part video series, “The Economics of War and Peace,” created by Professor Emeritus James Boyce, has been recognized as a finalist for the fifth annual Anthem Community Voice Awards. The series provides a critical economic analysis of conflict, directly supporting the objectives outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16.

Core Themes and Direct Contribution to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The series systematically deconstructs the economic dimensions of conflict and peace-building, offering insights crucial for achieving SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies.

• Historical Analysis: The series opens with a historical exploration of economic strategies used to end wars and sustain peace, aligning with Target 16.1 to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
• Drivers of Conflict: It delves into the interplay of greed and grievances as root causes of civil wars, drawing on first-hand experience from post-war El Salvador. This analysis supports Target 16.7 by highlighting the need for inclusive and representative decision-making to address underlying societal tensions.
• Critique of Economic Policy: Professor Boyce critiques conventional economic approaches to efficiency, debt, and foreign aid in post-conflict nations. This directly informs the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, as called for in Target 16.6.
• Reimagining Economics for Peace: The series concludes by challenging economists to address the costs of war, advocating for a reimagined economic framework focused on investing in lasting peace, a foundational requirement for the entirety of SDG 16.

Broader Implications for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The economic principles discussed in the series have far-reaching implications for a range of interconnected SDGs, demonstrating that peace is a prerequisite for sustainable development.

1. SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By examining how to build stable post-war economies, the series addresses the fundamental link between peace, poverty eradication, and the creation of sustainable economic growth.
2. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The focus on economic grievances as a driver of conflict underscores the importance of equitable economic policies in preventing violence and reducing inequalities within and among countries.
3. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The critique of foreign aid taxation and the call for new economic thinking contribute to the discourse on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article directly addresses this goal as its central theme is “The Economics of War and Peace.” The video series discussed aims to analyze how to use “economics to end wars and sustain peace.” This aligns perfectly with SDG 16’s mission to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.” The article’s focus on the “interplay of greed and grievances in civil wars” and the need to “invest in lasting peace” are core concepts of this goal.

2. Specific SDG Targets

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The article’s discussion of the “enormous costs of war” and the objective to “end wars” directly corresponds to this target. The analysis of “civil wars,” as mentioned in the article, is a specific form of violence that this target seeks to reduce. The entire premise of the video series is to find economic pathways away from violent conflict.
2. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence…
   • Professor Boyce’s critique of economic policies related to “debt, tariffs, and the taxation of foreign aid in countries transitioning from war to peace” points to the need to build stronger, more equitable institutions in post-conflict settings. The mention of “foreign aid” highlights the role of international cooperation in this institutional capacity-building, which is a key element of Target 16.a.

3. Mentioned or Implied Indicators

1. Implied Indicator: Reduction in the number, duration, and intensity of conflicts.
   • The article does not provide a specific metric, but its overarching goal of “ending wars” and achieving “lasting peace” implies that a primary indicator of success would be a measurable decrease in violent conflicts, such as the “civil wars” mentioned.
2. Implied Indicator: Reform of economic policies in post-conflict nations.
   • The article highlights a critique of “conventional economic wisdom” concerning “efficiency, debt, tariffs, and the taxation of foreign aid.” This implies that an indicator of progress towards sustainable peace would be the adoption of alternative economic frameworks and policies that address grievances and support peace-building efforts.
3. Implied Indicator: Financial resources (foreign aid) allocated to peace-building.
   • The specific mention of “foreign aid in countries transitioning from war to peace” suggests that the volume and effectiveness of financial flows dedicated to institutional strengthening and peace initiatives are a relevant measure. Tracking how these resources are used to “invest in lasting peace” would serve as an indicator.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: umass.edu