Achieving Greater Homeland Security: Who Should Pay, and How?

Charlotte Kirschner; Alice Levy; Joseph J. Cordes

Charlotte Kirschner The George Washington University
Alice Levy The George Washington University
Joseph J. Cordes The George Washington University

Abstract

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States have broadened the public sector’s role in providing “protective goods and services” to include homeland security in addition to national security and public safety (e.g. police and fire protection). Although it is acknowledged that the federal government has a clear responsibility for taking the lead in shaping homeland security policies, the provision of greater homeland security involves significant participation by state and local governments, and the private sector, in addition to the national government.This paper briefly summarizes why private markets are likely to under-invest in homeland security, leading to a need for public action. It provides an overview of both the range of budgetary and non-budgetary tools used by the United States (U.S.) federal government to “finance” the provision of homeland security, and the budgetary and non-budgetary cost of these federal actions. The paper also identifies and discusses some of the principle challenges faced in ensuring federal homeland security dollars are “well-spent.” While the analysis focuses on the United States, the tools of government employed are applicable to all sovereign nations.

Author Biographies

Charlotte Kirschner, The George Washington University

Charlotte Kirschner is a Ph.D. candidate in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University. Ms. Kirschner’s concentration is in national security policy and she has focused on homeland security and terrorism.

Alice Levy, The George Washington University

Alice Levy is a PhD candidate in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University. Her field is public budgeting and finance. Ms. Levy’s research interests lie in performance budgeting.

Joseph J. Cordes, The George Washington University

Joseph J. Cordes is the director of the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration and Professor of Economics, Public Policy and Public Administration, and International Affairs at The George Washington University. Professor Cordes received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1977. From 1989–91 he was Deputy Assistant Director for Tax Analysis at the Congressional Budget Office. He is currently an Associate Scholar, at the Urban Institute. Professor Cordes has co-edited three books and authored or co-authored over sixty articles that have been published in scholarly journals or as chapters in books.