Citation

Downes C. Defence economics 1991; 2(4): 353-363.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10430719108404708

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Military manpower has not been a feature of contemporary national security and Defence and Peace Economics thinking. At best, it is treated as a problem to be avoided. A number of the reasons for this circumstance are distilled, including many outdated preconceptions and overtaxed assumptions about military manpower. The article then addresses the overlooked characteristics of manpower which constitutes a crucial input to national security and defence economic debates. The article concludes that the time is ripe to “bring military manpower back into the loop” of defence decision-making; that manpower is a variable of equal standing to weaponry, international relations, force structure budgets, etc. in strategic thought and analysis.