ECONOMICS OF NATIONAL SECURITY
AP Photo
October 26, 2008
"The pendulum swings towards regulation"
Op-Ed, Financial Times
By Lawrence Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor
"We need to reform tax incentives that encourage financial risk taking, regulate leverage and prevent government policies that give rise to a toxic combination of privatised gains and socialised losses. This offers the prospect of a prosperity that is more firmly grounded and more inclusive."
Winter 2008-09
Belfer Center Newsletter Winter 2008-09
Newsletter
By Sharon Wilke, Associate Director of Communications
The Winter 2008-09 issue of the Belfer Center newsletter features recent and upcoming research, activities, and analysis by Center faculty, fellows, and staff on critical global issues. "What should the next president do first?" is a question raised in this issue. Belfer Center experts respond to the question with advice on what they consider priority issues of national security, climate/energy policy, and the economic crisis.
The Winter 2008-09 issue also features take-aways from the Center’s recent “Acting in Time on Energy Policy” conference hosted by the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group. In addition, it spotlights Belfer Center Faculty Affiliate Richard Clarke and new Kennedy School Professor Nicholas Burns.
AP Photo
October 10, 2008
"We have the tools to manage the crisis"
Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal
By Paul Volcker, International Council Member, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Fortunately, there is also good reason to believe that the means are now available to turn the tide. Financial authorities, in the United States and elsewhere, are now in a position to take needed and convincing action to stabilize markets and to restore trust.
AP Photo
October 6, 2008
"Demeaning Democracy"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
As the consequences and costs of the Iraq war, the global war on terror, and the economic mismanagement unfold, so does the 2008 US presidential election. Now, even the latter appears to disgrace the once admired ideal of America's democracy in the eyes of the world.
AP Photo
October 4, 2008
"The Problem Is Still Falling House Prices"
Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
Martin Felstein discusses the falling prices of housing in the current economic crisis, and the negative impact on individuals with mortgages and financial institutions and individuals currently paying off a mortgage, and the implications of the new legislation on this issue.
September 29, 2008
"A Bailout is Just a Start"
Op-Ed, Washington Post
By Lawrence Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor
"It is impossible to predict the ultimate cost to the Treasury of the bailout and the other commitments that financial authorities have made -- this will depend primarily on the economy as well as the quality of execution and oversight. But it is very unlikely to approach $700 billion and will be spread over a number of years."
AP Photo
September 29, 2008
"Problems run deeper than Wall Street"
Op-Ed, The Korea Herald
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
"With less than two months remaining before America's presidential election, much attention is focused on the state of the American economy and the challenges that it will present to the next president."
AP Photo
September 18, 2008
The Power of Oil Consumers
Op-Ed
By Henry A. Kissinger and Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
The oil-consuming nations are in a position to shape both the global economic and political balance, provided they coordinate and, to some extent, pool their efforts. America should play a major role in this effort. Rather than wait passively for the next blow to fall, the major consuming nations -- the Group of Seven, together with India, China and Brazil -- should establish a coordinating group to shift the long-term trends of supply and demand in their favor and to end the blackmail of the strong by the weak.
AP photo
Summer 2008
"Closing Time: Assessing the Iranian Threat to the Strait of Hormuz"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 1, volume 33
How might Iran retaliate in the aftermath of a limited Israeli or U.S. strike? The most economically devastating of Iran's potential responses would be closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to open-source order of battle data, as well as relevant analogies from military history and GIS maps, Iran does possess significant littoral warfare capabilities, including mines, antiship cruise missiles, and land-based air defense. If Iran were able to properly link these capabilities, it could halt or impede traffic in the Strait of Hormuz for a month or more. U.S. attempts to reopen the waterway likely would escalate rapidly into sustained, large-scale air and naval operations during which Iran could impose significant economic and military costs on the United States — even if Iranian operations were not successful in truly closing the strait. The aftermath of limited strikes on Iran would be complicated and costly, suggesting needed changes in U.S. force posture and energy policy.
Velo Steve
May 19, 2008
National Security Challenges and Competition: US Defense and Space R&D in a Strategic Context
Journal Article, Technology in Society, issue 3, volume 30
By Dr. Robert J. Hermann, Senior Advisor, Preventive Defense Project
PDP Senior Advisor Robert J. Hermann examines the evolution of the role of science and technology as a strategic national security advantage.
