Arbeitspapier

The political economy of conscription

Though in decline recently, military conscription is still a widely used mode of staffing armies. Since not many valid economic, social or military arguments in favor of the draft can be put forward, the question emerges why societies choose to rely on it. In this survey we explain the political allure of military conscription by its specific intra- and intergenerational incidence as a tax. From a public choice perspective, there is always a vast majority of people in favor of the introduction and maintenance of military draft, as compared to a professional army. Empirical evidence for this conclusion appears to be mixed, however. Political preferences with respect to conscription involve concerns about its unfairness and questionable record on social accounts. Special interests may also matter.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 4429

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
National Security and War
Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
Thema
Military draft
public choice
taxation
dynamic costs
fairness
Wehrdienst
Verteidigungshaushalt
Public Choice
Excess Burden
Gerechtigkeit

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Poutvaara, Panu
Wagener, Andreas
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
(wo)
Bonn
(wann)
2009

Handle
URN
urn:nbn:de:101:1-200910141090
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:43 MEZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
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Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Poutvaara, Panu
  • Wagener, Andreas
  • Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Entstanden

  • 2009

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