text: I.5 per cent in 1"980 fron a rate of some 5 to 7 per cent over recent years' In 198I; the value of ltorLd exPorts dectined in absolute terns. The recession is particutarly costly ln terns of hunan resources3 in the developed market economles more than 24 nillion nembers of the Iabour force were unemployed at the end of 198I. Although sone recovery in econonic Perfornance nlay be anticipated in the near future, the pace of advance is not exPected to be vigorous' The poorer nediun-term trend that has been in evidence since the nid-19?0s is lhus likely to continue. 82. In assessing the impact of the current and future military outlays on these sobering economic prosp.-ts, a faniliar Problen Pertains to the -relevance of past experieice, wirich lndicates a coincidence of high military sPending and high rates of economic Aronth for sone of the develoPed countries' Ilowever, several econqnists have by now seressed that a coincidence of bigh military sPending and high rates of economlc aror.rth does not provide evldence of a Positlve relationship behdeen the tflo. Indeed, if there is a relationshiP, then the causallty nas probably reversedr that is' higher nllitary spending was made possible due to high rates oi growth, and not vice versa. The fundamental reason for the negative effect of nilitary outLays can be described sinPlys although military Production isaPartofthegrossnationatproduct,ltdiffersfronotherfornsofoutPutinthat, by i.tself . it neither serves Present consunption no! adds to Productive A/37/356 Engl ish Annex Page 42 capacity. 42/ fhe real burden of rnilitary expenditures are the civilian goods andservices which could have been produced lnstead. Sinpty stated, the opportunitycosts of tbe production of military goods and services are the forgoneol4)ortunities to produce civilian goods with the productive capacity (nanpower,cap1tal, technology, and so forth) clairned by the military sector.
analysis: The text primarily discusses the economic impacts of military spending on a country's economy, including the effects on employment, growth, and production. It also touches on the relevance of past experiences and the opportunity costs of producing military goods and services. Given the focus on economic aspects and the analysis of the relationship between military spending and economic growth, it is likely that the text falls under a category related to economics.