Publisher's Synopsis
The incidence of sanctioning behaviour is generally on the increase internationally. This study introduces, analyzes and seeks to clarify the issues that are fundamental to an understanding of the subject. The authors argue that only a public-choice analysis, with its emphasis on politics, can answer three important questions about sanctions: why, in the light of their weak economic impacts, are they being used more and more frequently?; why is it that they take the particular forms they do?; and why are they often successful even when their economic impact is slight?