Overview

How should national security concerns alter our perception of what constitutes good economic policy? Survival: The Economic Underpinnings of American National Security introduces principles of national security thinking relevant to public policy, then illustrates application of these principles in a number of policy areas including fiscal policy, healthcare, education, immigration, welfare and poverty abatement, energy, and the environment.

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9781498513005

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Reviews

Lipow examines various socioeconomic issues the US faces and how they affect American security. Each chapter covers an issue and suggests a reform. The author discusses some issues most would not see as connected to national security, such as social security. On some issues (immigration), the security connection is clearly made and the author's discussion is eye opening, even counterintuitive... However, chapter 2 is particularly strong in arguing that war is a battle of narratives-one wins a war when the other side no longer believes it can win or in the cause it is fighting for. The author then links this to why democracies are more likely to win and why the size of one's military matters. Chapter 11, Military Manpower, is a strength of the text, particularly Lipow's argument for why citizens have a right to serve in the military and how this strengthens the narrative of the country, helping it stay secure and serving as a check on the military in a democracy. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE * This is a substantive treatise by an eminent academic, former economic adviser to Israel's Ministry of Defense, and former combat engineer. In 12 chapters, Dr. Lipow has taken a somewhat dry and ominous-sounding subject, and turned it into an engrossing and enlightening read, with minimal algebraic equations. * The Californian (US Today Network) * This book brings economics to bear on a number of important issues ranging from warfare to medicare, offering practical solutions to perennial policy problems. Lipow uses well-crafted examples and a conversational style to make powerful ideas come alive. An accessible, thought-provoking contribution to public discourse. -- Ken Kuttner, Williams College In a series of insightful and thoughtful essays, Lipow asks the simple question, why do nations fight and why does it matter? Lipow's examination of these and other topics is not only easily accessible but also provokes important conversations on war, national security, environmental quality, and recruitment. Unlike traditional treatments of defense economics and war, Lipow bridges the gap between why people fight and why economists think people fight. A worthwhile read and an excellent supplement to classes on national security and warfare. -- Robert McNab, Old Dominion University In the wonderfully readable Survivability: The Economic Underpinnings of American National Security, Lipow explains why our policies for immigration, race, debt, social equity, healthcare, energy, and social security matter for our performance on the field of battle and for our survival. Lipow's superb book shows the big picture of American policy and how to make our country prevail. -- Peter Berck, University of California, Berkeley

This book brings economics to bear on a number of important issues ranging from warfare to medicare, offering practical solutions to perennial policy problems. Lipow uses well-crafted examples and a conversational style to make powerful ideas come alive. An accessible, thought-provoking contribution to public discourse.--Ken Kuttner, Williams College In a series of insightful and thoughtful essays, Lipow asks the simple question, why do nations fight and why does it matter? Lipow's examination of these and other topics is not only easily accessible but also provokes important conversations on war, national security, environmental quality, and recruitment. Unlike traditional treatments of defense economics and war, Lipow bridges the gap between why people fight and why economists think people fight. A worthwhile read and an excellent supplement to classes on national security and warfare.--Robert McNab, Old Dominion University In the wonderfully readable Survivability: The Economic Underpinnings of American National Security, Lipow explains why our policies for immigration, race, debt, social equity, healthcare, energy, and social security matter for our performance on the field of battle and for our survival. Lipow's superb book shows the big picture of American policy and how to make our country prevail.--Peter Berck, University of California, Berkeley

Author Information

Jonathan Lipow is associate professor of economics at the Defense Resources Management Institute.

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