Theories of Budgetary Tradeoffs

Journal of Public Budgeting 7(4):586-612, 1995

Posted: 10 Mar 2020

See all articles by Alex Mintz

Alex Mintz

Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya

Randolph Stevenson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: March 1, 1995

Abstract

The literature on defense-welfare tradeoffs has not been characterized by an emphasis on theory development. Indeed, most work has concentrated on using increasingly sophisticated statistical techniques to isolate empirical relationships in spending data on various countries. Unfortunately, however, this empirical enterprise has proven inconclusive, with some studies finding trade-offs and others not. In this paper, we suggest that a greater focus on theory development may help to resolve some of the empirical conflicts in this literature. In particular, we argue that there are at least two substantial bodies of theoretical work available that, while relevant to guns-butter questions, have remained to a large extent unexploited. One conclusion that we draw from this exercise is that the discussion of tradeoffs should probably move away form its current focus on primarily direct exchanges between spending on guns and butter, and instead begin to explore more indirect links which are acting through the economy.

Keywords: Budgetary tradeoff, Military spending, Economy, Economic trade off, Budget

Suggested Citation

Mintz, Alex and Stevenson, Randolph, Theories of Budgetary Tradeoffs (March 1, 1995). Journal of Public Budgeting 7(4):586-612, 1995, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3512066

Alex Mintz (Contact Author)

Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya ( email )

P.O. Box 167
Herzliya, 4610101
Israel

Randolph Stevenson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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