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Unproductive entrepreneurship in US military contracting

Christopher J. Coyne (Department of Economics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA)
Courtney Michaluk (Department of Economics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA)
Rachel Reese (Department of Economics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA)

Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy

ISSN: 2045-2101

Publication date: 15 August 2016

Abstract

Purpose

US military contracting has been plagued by systematic corruption, fraud, and waste during both times of peace and war. These outcomes result from the inherent features of the US military sector which incentivize unproductive entrepreneurship. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the insights of Baumol (1990) as their base theoretical framework, the authors explore how the industrial organization of the US military sector creates incentives for unproductive entrepreneurship. Evidence from US government reports regarding US efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq is provided to illustrate the central claims.

Findings

The military sector is characterized by an entangled network of government bureaus and private firms whose existence is dependent on continued government spending. These realities, coupled with a dysfunctional procurement processes, reward unproductive behaviors during peacetime. During wartime these incentives are intensified, as significant emergency resources are injected into an already defective contracting system. The recent experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq illustrate these dynamics.

Originality/value

The authors make three main contributions. First, contrary to common treatments by economists, much military spending fails to meet the definition of a public good. Second, waste, fraud, and abuse in military contracting is a result of rules and the incentives those rules create. Third, the only way to change the situation is to change the overarching rules governing the people operating in the military sector.

Keywords

  • Rent seeking
  • Firm performance
  • Entrepreneurial action
  • Political entrepreneurship
  • Entrepreneurial opportunity
  • Organizational structure

Acknowledgements

The authors thank an anonymous referee and the editor for useful comments and suggestions for improvement. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual Southern Economic Association meetings in New Orleans, LA, November 21-23, 2015. The authors thank conference participants for useful feedback and suggestions. Finally, the authors thank David Lucas for research assistance.

Citation

Coyne, C.J., Michaluk, C. and Reese, R. (2016), "Unproductive entrepreneurship in US military contracting", Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 221-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEPP-12-2015-0037

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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