The Costs of National Security

“Until we find the collective will, the drive for national economic security will continue to lead to collective insecurity.” A finance professor discusses the eventual downside of coveting resources: “Even as the world becomes more integrated, the word ‘security’ crops up again and again, as in ‘food security’ or ‘energy security.’ Typically, this means a country creating and controlling production facilities no matter what the cost. Thus, Arab countries grow water-hungry grain in the desert, and China acquires part ownership of oil companies in Sudan. Are these economically sensible actions? If not, what should the world do to reduce the need for them?”