Research and Development, Testing, and the Economics of Information, 1937–63

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (S1) ◽  
pp. 168-190
Author(s):  
William Thomas
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Information Gathering ◽  
Rand Corporation ◽  
Crucial Aspect ◽  
World War ◽  
Economics Of Information ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
Military Systems ◽  
Kenneth Arrow

American mathematicians’ contributions to the engineering and production of equipment in World War II included the exploration of ways to improve choices between competing designs and maximize the value of experimental testing of prototypes. After the war, these contributions were extended, particularly at the RAND Corporation. Working on such matters, Kenneth Arrow took a keen interest in testing as a paradigm for information gathering in economic decision-making and in encouraging investment in R&D as an information-gathering exercise essential to making informed choices in military systems acquisition. He later extended insights about the shortcomings of information gathering as a market activity to his touchstone analysis of disparities of information between physician and patient as a crucial aspect of the economics of medical care. While it is difficult to trace the precise influence of the work of Arrow and others around him on engineering and R&D management, the issues they grappled with have remained relevant for more than half a century.

Occupational psychology in the UK Ministry of Defence

2018 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-127
Author(s):  
Joanna Harvey
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
World War I ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Early Years ◽  
World War ◽  
Current Application ◽  
Occupational Psychology ◽  
Military Systems ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Military

Psychologists first became prominent within the Armed Forces largely as a result of their contributions to military systems, operations and personnel during the First and Second World Wars. In the early years of the 20th century, as psychology was becoming a profession in its own right, its association with the military arose within the emerging concept of ‘shellshock’ during World War I and supporting selection activities in World War II. There are approximately 25 occupational psychologists currently employed within the Ministry of Defence (MoD), operating across all branches of the MoD, within the department of the Chief of Defence Personnel, the UK Defence Academy and a small number at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The aim of this paper is to discuss the history and current application of occupational psychology within the UK MoD.

scholarly journals Book Review: Navigating the Future with Scenario Planning: A Guidebook for Librarians

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Larry Cooperman
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Rand Corporation ◽  
World War ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
The Future

No librarian likes to think about any potential problems that may arise in their library in the future. But how does one effectively prepare for potential future emergencies? Scenario planning, with a technique originated by Herman Kahn and the RAND Corporation after World War II, can be adapted by librarians to do contingency planning.

History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches: Worldly Philosopher: The Odyssey of Albert O. Hirschman

2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1185-1187
Author(s):  
Michael McPherson
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Spanish Civil War ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Thought ◽  
Rand Corporation ◽  
London School ◽  
World War ◽  
Princeton University ◽  
International Teaching ◽  
London School Of Economics

Michael McPherson of The Spencer Foundation reviews, “Worldly Philosopher: The Odyssey of Albert O. Hirschman” by Jeremy Adelman. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Explores the life and economic work of Albert O. Hirschman. Discusses Hirschman's early life in the Weimar Republic; Hirschman's education and early relationship with politics; Hirschman's journey to Paris; Hirschman's move to the London School of Economics and involvement in the Spanish Civil War; Hirschman's return to France and the outbreak of World War II; Hirschman's emigration to the United States; Hirschman's involvement in the U.S. Army; the aftermath of World War II; the Cold War and Red Scare; Hirschman's years in Colombia; Hirschman's Yale University years and The Strategy of Economic Development; the RAND Corporation; travel and research; the upheaval of the late 1960s; crisis and hope in Latin America; Hirschman and the Institute for Advanced Study; Hirschman's relationship with the human body; Hirschman during the late 1970s and early 1980s; Hirschman's study of the ethics of social science; Hirschman's work in retirement; and Hirschman's final years. Adelman is Walter Samuel Carpenter III Professor of Spanish Civilization and Culture and Director of the Council for International Teaching and Research at Princeton University.”

De werkgevers in het politiek beslissingsproces voor economische aangelegenheden

Res Publica ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-438
Author(s):  
Robert Vandeputte
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Second World War ◽  
World War ◽  
Economic Decision ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second World

The employers, although small in size, dispose of an important influence in economic decision-making.Before the second world war, economic problems were exclusively dealt with by the government and the employers. After world war II, trade unions came more into relief. They were involved in consultations as athird partner. Consequently the impact of the employers faded somewhat.Currently the employers dispose of various channels to influence economic decision-making; e.g. contacts with civil servants, consultations in study centres of political parties, international relations, etc.Nevertheless the efficacy of employers's power is hindered by internal quarrel, strong individualism, and by the position of trade unions.

Renewable Resources — What are the Options?

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Ekins
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Economic Model ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Final Conclusion ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
World War ◽  
Economic Decision Making

This paper first identifies the main trends which have operated in the countryside of Great Britain since 1950, assessing the costs and benefits of these to different countryside interest-groups. This section concludes that the British countryside since World War II has been more or less willingly sacrificed for material affluence.The paper then relates this process to economic activity, and in particular to the linear-model of such activity which is posited as currently dominant, together with the principal objectives which it is used to promote. This situation is compared with a circular economic model with different objectives. The comparison yields the conclusion that such a model would yield significant improvements over the linear model in terms of countryside diversity, amenity, and sustainability. The paper then moves on to a consideration of resources, and contrasts the different values given to different resources depending on the economic model which is being employed.The final conclusion of the paper is that while renewable resources — many of them located in or deriving from the countryside — would seem to have much economic potential, the extent to which that potential will be sustainably realized will depend on the extent to which the circular economic model, and the values and objectives underlying it, replace the linear model in economic decision-making.

Who's Thinking about National Security?

Worldview ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-23
Author(s):  
Garry D. Brewer ◽  
Paul Bracken
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
National Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Important Change ◽  
Think Tanks ◽  
Rand Corporation ◽  
World War ◽  
Interesting Phenomenon ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Financial Base

Prior to World War II, American national security policy was formed by a loosely connected elite that generally operated from a business-financial base in the northeastern United States. It was from this group that secretaries of state and war were drawn and among this group that serious long-range thinking on important security issues was undertaken. The power of this community continued after the war, probably reaching its zenith in the 1950s, when an important change occurred. Unversities like Harvard, Yale, and Chicago gained prominence at this time, but the more interesting phenomenon was the emergence of so-called "defense intellectuals" at places like the Rand Corporation and other think tanks.

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