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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2004.07.010 Byline: Allen Wilhite Keywords: Agent-based modeling; Computational economics; Protection; Club theory Abstract: Consider a simple world populated with two types of individuals, those who work and create wealth (peasants) and those who steal the property of others (bandits). With bandits about, peasants need to protect their output and can do so individually or collectively. Either way protection is costly; it consumes resources and interferes with an individual's ability to create wealth. This study investigates how individuals might make decisions in such circumstances, how those decisions evolve over time, and how broader societal characteristics can emerge from such decisions. Author Affiliation: Department of Economics and Finance, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA Article History: Received 2 November 2003; Accepted 21 July 2004

Objective. Public concern over a seemingly intransigent and insensitive Congress has rekindled interest in raising the rate of turnover in that body. This paper investigates two approaches, term limits and spending limits, and how campaign strategies are affected when such rules are in place. Methods. Viewing congressional campaigns as rent-seeking games, strategic responses to certain rule changes (spending and tenure ceilings) are explored theoretically. These theoretical results then guide some empirical measures using data from the 1980 elections. Results. Term limits reduce the benefits of holding office, which, in turn, reduce the effort put forth in capturing that office. This effect, however, is asymmetrical with incumbents responding more than challengers. Spending limits disproportionately affect challengers, but when long-term effects are considered the 'incumbency protection' they provide is much smaller than previously suggested. Conclusions. Term limits are expected to result in greater congressional turnover with less money being spent on campaigns than in the absence of such a rule. Spending limits can indeed be used to level the electoral playing field especially if the limits take into account the impact of incumbent spending in previous elections on the current campaign.

Each year, thousands of young men enlist in the Armed Forces and after a few years most are discharged and re-enter the civilian labor force. This article investigates the impact of military service, including formal military training and on-the-job experience, on the civilian wage of these veterans. Concentrating on the all voluntary military, we find that the impact of military service on subsequent civilian wages differs with education and race. Non-whites (blacks and hispanics) and high school dropouts benefit from a military stint while college graduates suffer a large wage penalty. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

The US military operates some of the largest and most complex supply chains in the world and their experience provides insight into a variety of supply chain issues. This paper taps that experience to study how the design of a supply chain is influenced by its economic environment. Consider these circumstances: the military is not a profit-seeking enterprise, they want to achieve a particular state of readiness and cost is secondary to that goal. Modern weapons systems are complex, expensive, push the envelope of technology, and the volume requisitioned is often small such that few manufacturers can afford to be in the business; and these expensive weapons systems operate in harsh operating conditions where wear and tear is substantial, consequently remanufacturing of systems and parts is a critical source of supply. Focusing on the supply chain of the US Army, this paper uses an economic model to study their responses to these conditions, how supply chain design is affected by these conflicting goals, and how those designs affect cost and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

INTRODUCTION Our intuition tells us that using drugs use such as heroin, cocaine, psychedelics, hashish, and even marijuana and alcohol can have serious effects on our personal life and may [...]