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The Political Economy of Military Base Redevelopment

Author

Listed:
  • Chandler S. Reilly

    (Metropolitan State University of Denver)

  • Christopher J. Coyne

    (George Mason University)

Abstract

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process has been through five rounds since 1988 and resulted in the closure of 121 major military bases. The design of BRAC tied the hands of Congress and limited political influences over bases chosen for closure. However, researchers have overlooked political economy issues related to the evolution of BRAC and of base redevelopment after a base is slated for closure. This paper fills this gap by examining the post-closure process, emphasizing the epistemic limitations facing political actors in designing the redevelopment process to achieve economic prosperity and the incentives this creates for rent-seeking.

Suggested Citation

  • Chandler S. Reilly & Christopher J. Coyne, 2025. "The Political Economy of Military Base Redevelopment," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 51(1), pages 7-26, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:51:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41302-024-00277-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41302-024-00277-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC); Economic knowledge; Military base redevelopment; Political economy; Rent seeking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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