Abstract
Economic theory establishes a general presumption that arms industries and weapons markets are both allocatively and technically (or x-) inefficient. They operate in markets where national governments are monopsonists, determining the form and extent of competition. Governments can determine technical progress, the size of the domestic arms industry, its structure and entry conditions, as well as prices and profitability. The result is a set of State-regulated imperfect markets, characterised by one or a few relatively large suppliers either privately- or publicly-owned, competing through technical ideas rather than price, with firms protected from the entry of new domestic and foreign rivals. Such markets are likely to be characterised by allocative inefficiency and resource misallocation. Market conditions are also conducive to x-inefficiency. Weapons firms are supported by cost-based contracts which ensure that producers can recover their actual outlays almost regardless of their level! The potential for x-inefficiency is reinforced by government regulation of defence profits so that firms have inducements to pursue non-profit objectives, usually at the taxpayer’s expense. Thus the absence of rivalry, together with cost-based contracts and state profit controls, provide the conditions for x-inefficiency amongst suppliers.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Burnet, C. (1981) The effect of aircraft size and complexity on the production learning curve, in Industrial Applications of Learning Curves and Progress Functions: (London: Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers), December.
Callaghan, T. A. (1975) US-European Economic Co-operation in Military and Civil Technology (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University).
EEC (1982) European Aerospace Industry: Trading Position and Figures 1980 (Brussels: Commission of the European Communities)
Hartley, K. (1978) (Development time scales for British and American military aircraft, Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 19, 2 (June).
Hartley, K. and Tisdell, C. (1981) Minor Economic Policy, (Chichester: J. Wiley).
Hartley, K. (1982) ‘Efficiency, industry and alternative weapons procurement policies’, in Schmidt, Christian (ed.), Economics of Military Expenditures (London: Macmillan for IEA).
Hartley, K. (1983) NATO Arms Co-operation: A Study in Economics & Politics (London: Allen & Unwin).
Hartley, K. and Corcoran, W. (1978) Time-cost trade-offs for airliners’, Journal of Industrial Economics, 26 (March).
Hartley, K and Lynk, E. (1983a), ‘Labour demand and allocation in the UK engineering industry’, Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 30 (February).
Hartley, K. and Lynk, E. (1983b). Input Demands and Elasticities in UK Defence Industries, ISER Discussion Paper, 89, University of York.
Hartley, K. and Watt, P. (1981). ‘Profits, regulation and the UK aerospace industry’, Journal of Industrial Economics, 29 (June).
Harvey, R. A. (1981) ‘Analysis of contributory factors in aircraft production learning, Industrial Applications of Learning Curves and Progress Functions, (London: Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers).
Jane’s (1981) World Encyclopaedia of Military Aircraft (London: Jane’s).
Jane’s (1982) Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft (London: Jane’s).
Jefferson, P. (1981). ‘Productivity comparisons with the USA — where do we differ?’ The Aeronautical Journal (May).
Niskanen, W. (1971) Bureaucracy and Representative Government (Chicago: Aldine Atherton).
Pite, C. (1980) ‘Employment and defence, Statistical News, Central Statistical Office, (London: HMSO).
Review Board for Government Contracts, (1977) Report on the Second General Review of the Profit Formula for Non-Competitive Contracts (London: HMSO).
Stigler, G. J. (1971) ‘The theory of economic regulation’, Bell Journal of Economics and Management Sciences (Spring).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1987 International Economic Association
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hartley, K. (1987). The Evaluation of Efficiency in the Arms Industry. In: Borner, S., Taylor, A. (eds) Structural Change, Economic Interdependence and World Development. International Economic Association Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09117-1_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09117-1_13
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-09119-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-09117-1
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)