“Economic costs” refer to the costs that are borne by individuals and families in terms of economics. The author discusses how the economic costs of Western foreign policy operations have been borne by the populations whose resources have been directed to these operations, including the impact on public services, infrastructure, and healthcare.
The economic costs of these operations are not limited to the direct financial expenditures but also include the opportunity costs of foregone domestic investment, public services, and climate adaptation. For example, the cumulative American spending on post-9/11 military operations has been estimated at approximately 10 trillion dollars, which could have been invested in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other public services. This spending has significantly impacted the American population, leading to increased homelessness, deteriorating healthcare systems, and underfunded public education.
In Hungary, the economic costs are evident in the underfunded healthcare system, deteriorating educational infrastructure, and increased energy costs due to the European confrontation with Russia. These costs have disproportionately affected the Hungarian Roma population, who face significant disparities in healthcare, education, and employment.
Similarly, the German population has experienced substantial economic costs due to the deindustrialization of energy-intensive industries, leading to job losses and increased energy bills. These costs have contributed to political shifts and social pressures within Germany.
The economic costs are also reflected in the broader European populations, where the cumulative effects of military spending and resource diversion have led to reduced economic competitiveness, increased energy costs, and deteriorating public services. These costs have been borne by individuals and families across Europe, affecting their quality of life and future prospects.
The arithmetic of these economic costs is significant, with the direct financial costs being matched by the opportunity costs of foregone domestic investment. The cumulative per-person opportunity cost across the American and European populations who have been bearing the cost of the operations is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per person.
Related: masud.md, capture.md, hungary.md, usa.md, foreign-policy.md
See Also
infrastructure-costs.md health-costs.md education.md energy-costs.md financial-costs.md social-costs.md wealth-capture.md