Abstract | Keywords | Export | Availability | Bookmark

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

The US defense economy is remarkable for a number of reasons -- including sheer size. It receives a significant (albeit decreasing) share of GDP and has a significant international footprint. Its purpose is to provide the resources for national defense -- against a set of complex and capable adversaries. The main players in the defense economy are households and the federal government. The associated interactions determine the resources provided for national defense and their allocation among various defense needs. This Element focuses primarily on interactions between government and industrial suppliers -- within the institutional peculiarities of the defense marketplace. This includes the developments that have determined the course of defense industry consolidation post-Cold War. The authors also highlight the persistent gap between resources available for defense and the means to execute the National Security Strategy. Finally, they offer some tentative thoughts regarding developments likely to shape the defense economy's future--back cover.

MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX--USA --- HISTORY --- DEFENSE INDUSTRIES--USA