peace dividend

noun

1. money cut by a government from its defense budget as a result of the cessation of hostilities with other countries.

peace dividend

noun

1. additional money available to a government from cuts in defence expenditure because of the end of a period of hostilities

Word History and Origins

Origin of peace dividend¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Many countries have grown accustomed to the peace dividend that followed the end of the Cold War, allowing countries to downsize their militaries and prop up generous social-welfare systems.

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It was in 1996 that then-President Jacques Chirac took the decision to end military service, as part of the peace dividend from the fall of the Soviet Union.

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The fall of the Berlin Wall led to the peace dividend that cut military spending to 3% of GDP from 5% at the beginning of the decade.

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There may be a peace dividend for asset markets after the historic agreement struck between Israel and the extremist group Hamas bringing an apparent end to a conflict that has raged for two years.

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"After the War, we hoped for a peace dividend, to move on geopolitically, but clearly that's not something Russia wants to do. And now my eldest son is banging on the door to join the air force, wanting to make a difference too... It does feel a little circular."

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