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Probability segmenting and the social cost of draft evasion

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Lipow

    (Defense Resources Management Institute)

  • Jay Simon

    (Defense Resources Management Institute)

Abstract

While a number of papers have addressed the costs and benefits of conscription, only one paper - Warner and Negrussa (2005) - considers the social welfare costs that result from efforts to illegally evade the draft. In this note, we address legal draft evasion - in particular, the use by of personal social or political connections to gain access to "cushy" military assignments. To combat this phenomenon, we illustrate the use of a tool that we call "probability segmenting," essentially a form of draft lottery that at little cost should substantially reduce the number of cushy assignments and their associated social costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Lipow & Jay Simon, 2014. "Probability segmenting and the social cost of draft evasion," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 34(1), pages 307-312.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-14-00076
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ross, Thomas W, 1994. "Raising an Army: A Positive Theory of Military Recruitment," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 37(1), pages 109-131, April.
    2. John Warner & Sebastian Negrusa, 2005. "Evasion costs and the theory Of conscription," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 83-100.
    3. Peter Berck & Jonathan Lipow, 2011. "Military Conscription and the (Socially) Optimal Number of Boots on the Ground," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 78(1), pages 95-106, July.
    4. Yew-Kwang Ng, 2008. "Why is the Military Draft Common? Conscription and Increasing Returns," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 9(2), pages 373-384, November.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    conscription; evasion; lottery; probability segmenting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies
    • J4 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets

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