Peace economics and peaceful economic policies

Abstract

This article outlines pillars of peace economics and peaceful economics policies. It first highlights Kenneth Boulding’s contribution to peace economics. In particular, substantial attention is paid to his conception of three systems that govern social life, namely the exchange system, the threat system, and the integrative system. Examples are produced to describe the differences between and among them. Second, in light of Boulding’s views, a workable definition of peace is proposed and associated suggestions for peaceful economic policy are made. Three aspects are underlined: The establishment of consensual democracies, the setting of a novel economic policy target—namely the ratio of public education expenditure to military expenditure—and the pursuit of stricter regulations on the international arms trade.