Citation

Higgs R, Kilduff A. Defence economics 1993; 4(3): 227-238.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10430719308404762

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Public opinion survey responses regarding the desirability of changes in defense spending can be compressed into a single variable, the public opinion balance, which, when accompanied by a control variable measuring the proportion of responses in the “residuum” (no opinion or keep the status quo), permits an accurate prediction of subsequent changes in the rate of change of U.S. defense outlays from the mid-1960s through the 1980s. This finding cannot be interpreted as a simple case of “the public got what it wanted,” however, because public opinion was not autonomous or spontaneous, and defense decision makers themselves played a central role in shaping public opinion.