The Insurer’s Fallacy and the value of nuclear weapons
By Ivan Oelrich | July 1, 2014
In an international confrontation, nuclear weapons can provide leverage even if they are not used. The leverage comes from threats of use or increased risk of use. When the confrontation is successfully resolved without nuclear use, exploiting this latent, potential use of nuclear weapons appears to be cost free. But in fact, some fraction of the consequence of a nuclear war should be included in the cost–benefit calculation each time the tactic is employed.
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Issue: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Volume 70 Issue 4
Keywords: Insurer’s Fallacy, bluffing, chance, deterrence, nuclear weapons, risk, threat
Topics: Nuclear Weapons
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Ivan Oelrich
Ivan Oelrich was Vice President of the Federation of American Scientists, analyzed military manufacturing for the Congressional Office of Technology... Read More
