Military Economics: The Interaction of Power and Money

by Ron Smith

Overview

Military power needs to be financed and economic development is often shaped by military conflict, thus the interaction of military and economy, power and money is central to the modern world. This book provides an accessible introduction to the economics of the use of organized force, with a wide range of historical and current examples.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230228535
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	10/29/2009
Edition description:	2009
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

RON SMITH is Professor of Applied Economics at Birkbeck, UK, where he teaches Econometrics and Statistics. He has written extensively on applied econometrics and defence economics and is on the editorial boards of Defence and Peace Economics and the Journal of Peace Research and is an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute.

Table of Contents

Introduction Economics The Military Values Facts Theories Power and Money Producing Security Militarism Economic Concepts Uncertainty Economic-Security Interactions Security: Are we Safe? Individual Security National Security Global Security War Oil Arms Races and Arms Control Military Spending: How Much is Enough? Measures of Military Expenditure Motives for Arming Economic Functions of US Military Spending Hard Choices: UK and France An Arms Race: India and Pakistan Military Prices Military Balance Sheets Force Acquisition I, Demand: The Biggest Bang for a Buck? Labour Weapons Procurement Technology Force Acquisition II, Supply: The Merchants of Death? The Arms Industry Evolution of the Arms Trade Regulation Military Capability: How to Win? Force Employment Morale Logistics Peacekeeping Economic Choices: Swords or Plowshares? Budget Constraints Economic Effects Technological Spin-off Economic Warfare Understanding Military Economics Acknowledgements, Abbreviations, References, Index

Editorial Reviews

'The mathematical and statistical language of defence and peace economics has long been incomprehensible to many students of security and the military. In Military Economics, Britain's leading defence economist resolves this with an accessible synthesis of the technical literature and provides an authoritative survey of the key interactions between military power and money. This book is essential reading for academics and practitioners interested in relationships between the military dimensions of economics and conflict.' - Professor Matt Uttley, King's College London, UK

'This outstanding book makes an original contribution to the economic analysis of the military sector. The author uses his extensive knowledge of the field to present a highly readable, non-technical and scholarly treatment of why money matters to the military. This is a classic text in applied economics.' - Keith Hartley, University of York, UK

'This is an excellent and long needed book on the complex and important issues of military economics. It is comprehensive, accessible, well written and incisive, and will become an essential reference for professionals, politicians, activists, academics and students as well as the informed lay person. A real tour de force by an academic at the peak of his powers.' - J Paul Dunne, Professor of Economics, The British University, Egypt and UWE, Bristol

From the Publisher