In a general context, this research examines United States (US) national security, as it is affected by human resources available to support national defense efforts (manpower for defense). More specifically, this research examines the poten tial impact on US defense capability of the decline in the levels of technical education and training in the US. This topic is examined through considerations of (1) the decline in the industrial base in the US, and (2) the future of the indus trial base in this country. In considering the decline in the US industrial base, the basis of the problem for US national defense is established, and the effects of the decline in tech nical training in particular is traced. The future of the US industrial base is of even greater significance for US national defense, and the effects of government policy on the future of technical education and training, and the future of the indus trial base are considered, and the implications of those effects for US national defense.
THE DECLINE IN THE US INDUSTRIAL BASE
One indicator of decline in the US industrial base is the deterioration of productivity growth in the American economy.1
1 2At the beginning of this discussion on productivity, it should be understood that what is deteriorating with respect to Ameri can productivity is not the level of output, or even growth in the level of output, but, rather, the rate of growth in the level of output. A deterioration in this rate of growth over time will, however, permit other countries to catch, and even pass the US in actual levels of output.
Productivity may mean many different things, depending upon the context in which the term is used. With the contin uing advances in manufacturing technology, the multifactor productivity concept is probably the most valid measure. Mul tifactor productivity is the ratio of output per unit of labor and capital inputs combined, which enables the productivity ra...