peace dividend

American  

noun

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

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peace dividend British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of peace dividend

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

But first, a reminder that the “peace dividend” — that is, the surge of available resources for socially beneficial spending after the cessation of hostilities — has always been an elusive concept.

From Los Angeles Times

“What happened to the peace dividend?” economist Augusto Lopez-Claros asked last year, referring to the supposed surfeit of funds that was to flow after the end of the Cold War.

From Los Angeles Times

Will this be AI’s peace dividend?

From The Wall Street Journal

A Middle East with greatly reduced chances of a widespread conflagration could generate a massive peace dividend for the region.

From MarketWatch

Investors betting on how much of the peace dividend will return as spending on defense should also focus on how much of it will be allowed to flow through to shareholders of arms manufacturers, especially in Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal