Methods of Measurement of Military Expenditures

Military expenditure is one of the indicators of military and defense capabilities of the countries. However, the relevant statistics are published based on various intentions and purposes which if not analyzed carefully, it would be misleading. Of course, to overcome this problem is not a major problem and for instance comparative study and consulting with different sources some of the ways to reach the reality. It needs to highlight that if a standard way and a holistic approach is adopted, validity of the relevant findings will increase. Having said that, the current paper, with a glance to the conceptual aspect of defense expenditures and the common ways of measurement of military and defense power in some international institutes like the United Nations, International Monetary Found and some others, attempts to introduce a standard way for measurement of military expenditures.