Security Economics: A Guide for Data Availability and Needs

Abstract

The rapid and accelerating development of security economics has generated great demand for more and better data to accommodate the empirical research agenda. The present paper serves as a guide to policy makers and researchers for security-related databases. The paper focuses on two main issues. Firstly, it takes stock of the existing databases, highlighting their main components and also performs a brief statistical comparison. Secondly, it discusses data shortages and needs that are considered essential for enhancing our understanding of the complex phenomenon of terrorism as well as designing and evaluating policy.