Security as a Public, Private or Club Good: Some Fundamental Considerations

Abstract

Security is often defined as the absence of threats. However, security has far more aspects, reaching from security of nation states to health security. Baldwin (1997) formulated seven questions to narrow the (broad) concept of security. Along with Baldwin's questions, this paper analyses 'security' in the context of private, public, and club goods and their changing mixture. On the individual level, a shift from public provision to private protection can be observed, whereas the international challenge is to provide 'security' as a global public good with a fair and efficient financing for both rich and low-income countries.