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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The economics of alternative national service |
Author: | Roux, A. |
Year: | 1991 |
Periodical: | South African Journal of Economics |
Volume: | 59 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 72-85 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | civic service military service |
External link: | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1813-6982.1991.tb00965.x |
Abstract: | The basic argument in this paper is that conscription has certain unintended cost implications in relation to brain drain and the allocation of labour within the South African economy. An alternative service programme can reduce these negative effects. The paper explores the economics of alternative national service in South Africa. It first deals with the costs of conscription and the costs of brain drain. Then it examines the advantages of a selective alternative service programme. The major advantage is that access can be controlled directly, thus enabling the authorities to protect the supply of conscripts available for military service. At the same time, the selection criteria could be designed in order to maximize the economic returns to alternative service. This suggests that the programme should be targeted at potential emigrants and at conscripts who are able to make greater contribution in a civilian capacity than as ordinary conscripts. Bibliogr., notes, ref. |