Distr. GENERAL ORIGINAL: ENGLISH Fortieth session Item 62 (b) of the provisional agenda* REDUCTION OF MILITARY BUDGETS Construction of military price indexes and purchasing-power parities for comparison of military expenditures Report of the Secretary-General 1. The General Assembly, in its resolution 37/95 B of 13 December 1982, requested the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of qualified experts and with the voluntary co-operation of States, to undertake the task of constructing price indices and purchasing-power parities for military expenditures of participating States. The Assembly further requested the Secretary-General to submit progress reports to it at its thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth sessions and a final report at its fortieth session. 2. The Group of Experts on the Reduction of Military Budgets, appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to that resolution, submitted progress reports on its work during 1983 and 1984 (A/38/354 and Corr.1 and A/39/399). 3. By a letter dated 14 June 1985, the Chairman of the Group of Experts submitted the final report, which is annexed to the present document. * A/40/150. 85-23015 5601-02f (E) / I.. A/40/421 Enqlish Page 2 ANNEX Construction of military price indexes and purchasing-power parities for comparison of military expenditures (Prepared by the Group of Experts on the Reduction of Military Budgets) CONTENTS Paragraphs FOREWORD BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ..,...................................*-•*a LETTER OF TR?iNSMTTTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ............................................... A. Historicai backqround .................................. B. Mandate of the present Group of Experts ................ C. Nature, scope and purpose of the exercise .............. 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be related to the reduction of military budgets, which is a financial and economic issue. The report discusses the construction of price indexes and purchasing-power parities for military expenditures, which suggests a focus on economic and financial aspects. The language used is formal and technical, indicating a report for a UN General Assembly session.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade