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More Than a Wing and a Prayer: Government Indemnification of the Commercial Space Launch Industry

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Abstract

Using rockets to launch communications satellites and other spacecraft poses risks to the uninvolved public, including persons and property under the flight path of the launch vehicle. The federal government plays a pivotal technical role during the actual launch by carrying out certain risk-related procedures, thus causing third-party risk to be jointly produced by the company and the government. In addition, under the Commercial Space Launch Act, the government partially indemnifies commercial launch companies for third-party damages. We compare the indemnification policy to optimal liability rules under public-private co-production of risk. Under modest assumptions, shared liability created by the indemnification rules decreases the incentive of both parties to take care relative to the optimum. If care were observable, it would be preferable for the government to fully indemnify companies that take due care. The role of the government as an agent for third parties may qualify these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy J. Brennan & Carolyn Kousky & Molly Macauley, 2009. "More Than a Wing and a Prayer: Government Indemnification of the Commercial Space Launch Industry," UMBC Economics Department Working Papers 09-112, UMBC Department of Economics, revised 01 Sep 2009.
    • Handle: RePEc:umb:econwp:09112
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy J. Brennan & James Boyd, 2006. "Political Economy And The Efficiency Of Compensation For Takings," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 24(1), pages 188-202, January.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    government indemnification; liability; insurance; space transportation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L98 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Government Policy

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