12 September, 2026
Wars are often measured in destroyed infrastructure, military expenditures, and the cost of rebuilding. But what if the greatest costs are the ones that never appear in a budget?
In this first part of a two-part analysis, Andrzej Fałkowski examines the hidden economic, demographic, institutional, and societal consequences of war. He argues that while governments can account for military spending, the erosion of human capital, weakened institutions, lost investment, and long-term demographic change may ultimately impose an even greater burden on a nation.
The Hidden Costs of War (Part 1) by Andrzej Fałkowski as originally published on defence24.com
See also The Costs of War: Expensive defence, even more expensive war (PART 2) by Andrzej Fałkowski as originally published on defence24.com