constructing such instruments of comparison in order to throw light on the question of whether military price indexes and PPPs might be successfully constructed in the context of future negotiations with a view to facilitating agreements among the parties. That is to say, the experience of this exercise should help to judge if such an undertaking would prove feasible under favourable circumstances, even though the indexes and parities resulting from this particular exercise might need further refinement. D. Participating States 22. In General Assembly resolution 37/95 B, the Secretary-General was requested to ascertain the willingness of States to participate in the exercise and to enlist their voluntary co-operation. In response to the Secretary-General's note verbale to all Member States pursuant to this reauest, several countries expressed themselves positively about the proposed exercise and eight of these - Australia, Austria, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America decided to take an active part in it. 23. The Group wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for the valuable contributions made by these States and their appointed contacts in providing the information reauested by the Group for the carrying out of its task. / . . . ~/40/421 English Page 12 CHAPTER II METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES A. Introduction 24. Methodological issues related to the construction of military price indexes and PPPs have been extensively treated by an earlier Group of Experts which submitted its report in 1982 (A/S-12/7, annex) i/. Therefore, this chapter will only briefly review the most important methodological issues involved in intertemporal and international comparisons. For further information on these issues, reference is made especially to chapter III of the above-mentioned report. 25. Intertemporal and international comparisons of military expenditures require 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the construction of economic indicators, specifically military price indexes and purchasing power parities, with a focus on international comparisons and their potential application in future negotiations. The language used is technical and economic in nature, suggesting a strong connection to the field of economics.

**Category**
International trade, Economics