ABSTRACT
Development economists have traditionally discussed the design of policy independently of conflict and its occurrence, these being seen as issues for political scientists. But the implications for social conflict of economic decisions cannot be ignored in this way. Similarly, the potential for conflict and civil war in retarding growth and development are equally important. The potential for disaster in getting economic policy wrong is high in fragile low-income societies that need economic growth, especially in those whose resources are easily capturable, giving them an above-average vulnerability to conflict.
