'Every so often an academic book comes along which is not only powerfully analytical and deeply informative but also encapsulates the author's lifetime research interests. Authored by one of the UK's most eminent economists, Keith Hartley's latest book on the aerospace industry offers the reader...

Weapons programs are criticized for cost overruns, delays in delivery and failure to meet their operational requirements. Critics focus on the power and influence of the military–industrial–political complex. This chapter addresses these controversial areas involving arms industries,...

Voluntary military alliances, such as NATO, are often criticized for failing to exploit the opportunities for equipment standardization and free trade. However, nationalism means that governments adopt a variety of industrial policies for purchasing defense equipment, leading to departures from...

This chapter defines defense economics and indicates how it differs from other subfields of economics. The nature and topics of defense economics are presented. A brief history of the field is also reviewed. The current importance of defense economics in the post-cold war era is discussed....