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The military is another largely "zero-sum" activity. If all militaries were disbanded immediately, no change in economic value would occur. In fact, the economi
by untangle 9y ago
The military is another largely "zero-sum" activity. If all militaries were disbanded immediately, no change in economic value would occur. In fact, the economic value of "winning a war" is questionable, let alone losing one. I'd extend this argument to the "war on drugs" as well. And the "war on terror" (as currently fought).
- refurb 9y agoIf all militaries were disbanded immediately, no change in economic value would occur. Not sure I agree. If you define economic value to include future value generation, I would argue that getting rid of a countries military might turn their future value from $XXXB to $0B pretty quickly. South Korea is a good example.
- thethirdone 9y agoHow is South Korea a good example? They have a sizeable military (huge for their population), and have a high gdp.
- MagnumOpus 9y agoYes, exactly. And if the did away with that military, the whole country would become a giant gulag within a few years.
- ryandrake 9y agoOnly works if all militaries and military activity were disbanded simultaneously. War is one of those weird economic activities specifically designed to be negative-sum. No matter the outcome of a war, society on average ends up worse off.
- Consultant32452 9y agoI wonder if without war, or at least the fear of it, we'd have created the interstate highway system, or satellites, nuclear power, jet-liners, etc. No doubt we'd have probably invented something. It's not entirely clear we would've invented the same things. The threat of eminent death tends to allow governments to "rationalize" insane spending on R&D on projects that they'd otherwise not have the stomach to wait on.