Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Oil For What?—Illicit Iraqi Oil Contracts And The U.N. Security Council, Paul Heaton

Paul Heaton

Over a 6½-year period the Iraqi government issued over 1300 oil contracts through the U.N. Oil-For-Food Program. This paper demonstrates that Security Council members obtained significantly more contracts than non-members and contract receipt is associated with pro-Hussein votes on resolutions. For non-permanent seat holders Council membership is associated with a 46% premium in contract value, while permanent seat holders obtained an estimated benefit of approximately $29 million each over the life of the program. A 10% increase in the probability of casting a pro-Iraq vote on the Council corresponds to $55 million in additional contracts. Contrary to median voter models, …