Drones: Public Interest, Public Choice, and the Expansion of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
40 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2014
Date Written: September 17, 2014
Abstract
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or “drones” have become a core component of the U.S. military arsenal following September 11, 2001. In much of the literature and public discourse regarding drones, it is assumed that drone policy is created within the broader “public interest.” That is, those who construct drone policy set aside private incentives and other motives to construct policy solely to achieve the goals of U.S. citizens and maximize some larger social welfare function. This paper identifies the propositions associated with this public interest ideal and examines their accuracy. I find a general disconnect between the empirical evidence and the public interest assumption. In several cases, the evidence directly contradicts the assumption of public interest. In light of these findings I offer an alternative, and more realistic, analytical framework to adjudicate between observed realities and stated goals.
Keywords: Political Economy, Public Interest, Public Choice, Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
JEL Classification: D72, D73, H56, P16
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation