Evaluating the Tradeoffs Between Dollars Spent and Lives Saved in Military Settings
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Authors
Kniesner, Thomas J.
Leeth, John D.
Sullivan, Ryan S.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2013-11-18
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School.
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Abstract
A fundamental tenant of economics is that actions should be evaluated in terms of benefits and
costs, including actions aimed at reducing military or civilian casualties. Safety improvements
only expand individual or social welfare if the benefits of the improvements exceed their costs.
Monetary costs of safety programs are generally determined through engineering or accounting
studies and are fairly non-controversial. Against their costs, must be weighed the value of fewer
fatalities and injuries, which requires both an accurate assessment of the fatalities and injuries
eliminated and a monetary value of the lives saved and injuries avoided. Some argue that no
monetary value can be placed on human life so any effort that improves safety is worthwhile.
Clearly, the military cannot operate as if human life had infinite value. The focal message of our
chapter is that choices must be made because complete safety is impossible and approving every
advancement in armament, technology, or training that would reduce causalities or injuries
would soon exhaust the military budget and leave no resources available for the core activities of
defending the country.
Type
Working Paper
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Series/Report No
Department
Business & Public Policy (GSBPP)
Organization
Defense Resources Management Institute
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.