Implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by leaving no one behind

Discussing public opportunity costs with administrators always works in the same way: you get ten minutes to explain what opportunity costs are. Then they explain to you, that these are no opportunity costs at all but measures to maintain employment.

Is this the end of identifying and diminishing public opportunity costs for mistrust?

Since the escalation of the Ukraine war in 2022 and the Gaza war, the costs for the military and sanctions have exploded. The clients describe them as “investments” in security and peace. The European Union, which for decades stood for economic success through peace, wants to take on an unimaginable 800 billion euros in debt. What for?

First of all, all arms expenditure in the Cold War between 1945 and 1990 was a total economic loss for all involved. Aircraft carriers, fighter planes, submarines, nuclear missiles.

Around three trillion dollars in military and sanctions  were invested against the UN sustainability goals in 2022. (see chart)

The total ODA in the same year was at $ 178.9 billion.

These comparisons are rarely published. They are not even included in the UN’s annual report on financing for development.
Military spending is not an investment. Education and health serve to maintain the population’s working capacity and provide for their old age. Investments in environmental protection maintain water supply and nutrition. Military spending serves what?
There is no conflict that cannot be resolved diplomatically and economically.

It would therefore suffice to put military spending to the test as a pure opportunity cost: Perhaps the potential enemy might prefer prosperity and effective technologies? Perhaps he needs well-educated young people for the development of his country? Customers for its products? Tourists? Energy?
He can have it all – if he is prepared to regard trust as a business model and mistrust as a cost factor.
We will support him in this.