Once the size of the defence budget has been determined, choices are required about its allocation between each of the three armed forces and their contribution to the UK's defence output in the form of peace, protection and security for its citizens.

BBC: Viewpoints: Future of the British army

Certainly, social protection does carry economic costs, reducing the amount of output that can be squeezed from any given amount of capital, labour and other resources.

ECONOMIST: Bearing the weight of the market | The