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Originally Posted by gunner  Your getting a little contradictory one minute you write, |
Nope! I'd only be a 'little contradictory' if the military sector was characterised by spin-offs, with diversification of the arms firm representing new opportunities created by military R&D. Such opportunities are increasingly rare. With spin-in dominating, it is quite correct to refer to crowding-out where the effectiveness of R&D resources is hindered.
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So do you think we should not have a defense industry?
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I'd certainly discourage it as far as possible, with preference for procurement from foreign company. Indeed, given the increased importance of economies of scale generated by the fixed costs from R&D expenditure, we are at a cross-roads. We either have to see further integration of European companies (and therefore run the risk of intensifying military industrial complex losses) or see our defence industry naturally dwindle.
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Isn't the UK,s social security budget twice that of the defense budget?
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My choice of comparison would be military burden (i.e. military expenditure as a % of GDP). For example, in 2005 the UK achieved a burden of 2.7%. Germany was at 1.4%.