Ukraines Battlefield Economics. Tactics When Your Enemy Has More.
Retired Major General Mick Ryan takes us for a journey through the battlefields of Ukraine, the tactics, planning and munitions supply status.
The economic theories of ‘supply & demand’ and the ‘allocation of scarce resources’ couldn’t be more applicable to the life and death struggle of war on a battlefield.
A battlefield comprises adversaries who attempt to kill each other to occupy land and become victorious. This requires munitions and men.
Victory is usually guaranteed to whomever has unlimited munitions and soldiers. But neither Russia or Ukraine have unlimited military resources.
Two main economic principles will determine the battlefield victor.
Firstly, who can best supply munitions to their troops to satisfy their demand, allowing them to achieve their battlefield objectives.
Secondly, how politicians and commanders distribute the limited munitions for maximum effect is crucial. Make tactical mistakes and those munitions are wasted
Maj. Gen. Ryan discusses the tragic global ramifications if the West was to prioritise munitions for Israel’s war in Gaza over the war in Ukraine.
He also outlines Australia’s current defence vulnerability in the face of our most critical strategic threats since World War 2.
Mick Ryan takes the Burgernomics Test detailing the effects on the simple hamburger of the Ukraine / Russian war.
Dive Deeper
Articles relating to the economics of the battlefield.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/17/europe/ukraine-shell-supplies-intl/index.html
https://www.economist.com/special-report/2023/07/03/the-war-in-ukraine-shows-how-technology-is-changing-the-battlefield
https://www.mca-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/January-2021-2.pdf