The Macrotechnology of Conflict

Bibliographic Data

ID6285693
AuthorsJack Hirshleifer (University of California, Los Angeles, corresponding author)
Year2000
Volume44
Issue6
Pages773-792
Publication date2000-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022002700044006004
OpenAlexW2108182388
LanguageEN
Citations received29
References cited34

Decision makers must balance between two classes of economic activities: production and conflict. Analogous to the familiar technology of production and exchange is the technology of conflict and struggle, applicable not only to military combat but also in domains such as redistributive politics, strikes and lockouts, litigation, and crime. The conflict success function (CSF) takes as inputs the fighting efforts on the two sides and generates as outputs the respective degrees of success achieved. A crucial determinant of the outcome is the decisiveness parameter, which scales the degree to which force preponderance translates into differential success. Because success feeds on success, in the long run a hegemonic outcome is likely unless the decisiveness parameter is relatively low. The CSF can be adjusted to distinguish between offense and defense, allow for geography and organization, or even display how intangible considerations such as truth or morality can promote success

Armed conflict · Balance (ability · Differential (mechanical device · Economics · Function (biology · Hegemony · Microeconomics · Morality · Outcome (game theory · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Production (economics · Corruption and Economic Development · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · Defense, Military, and Policy Studies · Engineering · Law · Psychology