War with Iraq: Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economic developers should be interested in the costs and benefits of a possible war with Iraq. Undertaking such an assessment is quite complex. For starters, who is thinking about this issue and how are they thinking about it? This article provides some insights into this issue.

As an initial cut, I have identified several Internet links that provide information on the costs and benefits of a war with Iraq. Given the sharp debate about whether this war should take place, I have included views that reflect various perspectives of this issue.

Middle East Policy Council: A forum discussion on how to think about a cost-benefit analysis of a potential war.

No War Blog: Views of those against the war.

Cato Institute: Article published in the Washington Times reflecting the conservative view of the war.

Research perspective on why democracies don't go to war.

Market-based perspective of the war.

Economic perspective.

United Kingdom perspective.

Limitations of cost-benefit analysis.

Hidden cost of war.

U.S. Department of Defense Almanac: Where DOD spends its (our) money.

Center for Strategic and International Studies: Excellent white paper on the economics of the war.

Hudson Institute Center for Middle East Policy: Broader perspectives and reasoning on the war.

CNBC Series on the Price of War: Excellent!

Look for more on this issue in the future.