Research for PP

The Old Age and Survivor's Insurance (OASI) programs of Social Security and the military retirement system are two of the largest and fastest growing income replacement programs in the United States. The size of these programs, in terms of both coverage and cost, make them of continuing interest to policymakers. Although both OASI and the military retirement system provide substantial amounts of income for retirees, they are fundamentally different. In addition to providing retirement annuities, OASI attempts to improve the social welfare by redistributing income toward the old and the retired poor (i.e., those with low earnings histories). The military retirement system helps manage military manpower. This system provides incentives for some personnel to remain in military service, and incentives for others to retire. Through this system the military is able to maintain an experienced force with sufficient youth and vigor to cope with the rigors and stresses of military life.

The development of nuclear weapons created a watershed in the history of military strategy. Heretofore, the ability to deter war had depended on the ability to defend oneself against attack and to defeat an aggressor. As nuclear weapons became increasingly powerful, and their means of delivery more unstopable, this relationship was shattered. This paper explores the development of nuclear deterrence from both the U.S. and Soviet perspectives, and discusses the effect of strategic defense on arms control.

The Reagan Administration has made a marked departure from recent American administrations in its emphasis on strategic defense. This article examines the effect of this new direction in U.S. defense policy on strategic arms control. It focuses particularly on questions raised for the 1972 Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.

This paper reports on the literature survey of a study of competition in defense procurement. The papers reviewed are retrospective evaluations of the effects of competition on the costs of weapons programs already completed. The commonly accepted model used to evaluate competition is presented. Then, the data and results from the literature are discussed. Finally, the paper gives some tentative conclusions on the adequacy of the model as both a retrospective and prospective tool for analyzing the effects of competition.