Military defence cost and capability - Preliminary study on international comparisons

In this report, some preliminary data and conclusions taken from an ongoing study on the ability of Sweden and other countries to create useful military capability from their defence expenditures are reviewed and presented. The report begins with some short comments on methods and sources. Then follows a brief overview on how defence expenditures have developed in selected countries. A comparison is then made on an issue of some significance for defence policy, regarding the size of manpower serving abroad. Other assessments are then made on which level of equipment modernity and quality, the defence allocations of various countries have sustained. The operational activities of various defence establishments are then briefly considered. Finally, a path for continued studies is presented.