Expeditionary economics is an emerging area of economic inquiry focused on rebuilding economies in post-conflict nations, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The concept was first introduced by Carl Schramm, the Kauffman Foundation's president and CEO, in an essay in the May/June 2010 issue of Foreign Affairs.
The thesis that undergirds expeditionary economics is that the most effective way to quickly establish a trajectory toward economic growth in areas in conflict is to focus on forming firms that can experience rapid growth in revenue and employment. Given the U.S. military's burden of leaving countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan in a stable economic state, it is critical that a strategy is developed for achieving post-conflict growth. A central issue surrounding expeditionary economics is whether the military and civilian agencies can invent the requisite expertise itself to do this, rather than outsourcing the task to private-sector contractors or other parts of the U.S. government.
This site provides background materials about expeditionary economics, including papers and videos stemming from the first conference ever held on the topic, "Entrepreneurship and Expeditionary Economics," which was held at the Kauffman Foundation May 25-27, 2010 in partnership with the Command and General Staff College Foundation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Recent Highlights
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Paper Examines Successes and Failures of CERP
This study examines the origins of the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP), as well as its successes and shortcomings as a tool for economic stabilization and security.
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Second Paper in Research Series Focuses on Challenges and Hope for Private-Sector Development in Afghanistan
Despite decades of conflict, corruption and insecurity, Afghanistan has unrecognized and untapped economic potential in its private sector, according to the just-released "Bactrian Gold" report.
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Proceedings Released
 This volume collects the papers, in chapter form, that were presented at the Summit on Entrepreneurship and Expeditionary Economics, held last year at the Kauffman Foundation.
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Expeditionary Economics Topic of Conference Keynote
 Hear an audio recording of Robert Litan, vice president of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation, as he gave the keynote address at the "Entrepreneurship in Challenging Times" conference held in conjunction with the Center for Strategic & International Studies.
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Policy Brief Explores Opportunities in Afghanistan
 Despite ongoing security challenges, the Afghan private sector has enormous opportunity for development and growth and will be a significant determinant to long-term stability in the country, according to the policy brief Afghanistan's Willing Entrepreneurs: Supporting Private-Sector Growth in the Afghan Economy, which was funded by the Kauffman Foundation.
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Expeditionary Economics Research Series Announced
The Kauffman Foundation has released the inaugural paper in its Expeditionary Economics Research Series, setting a research agenda to reconsider the United States’ approach to military and civilian development in areas stricken by conflict and natural disasters. The series will feature research from Kauffman, as well as a number of other civilian and military sources.
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Ideas in Action Episode Features Discussion on Expeditionary Economics
 Kauffman Foundation President and CEO Carl Schramm joined Colonel Mike Meese, Head of the Department of Social Sciences, West Point Military Academy; Ann Marlowe Blogger, WorldAffairsDaily.Org, and a visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute; and, host Jim Glassman in a discussion of the U.S. military's role in re-building economies.
Watch the episode
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USA Today Opinion Piece Focuses on Haiti
 Editorial writer Jonah Goldberg looks at expeditionary economics as a possible solution to Haiti's economic woes, saying "The West, including America, is expert at pouring aid into poor countries; it's less adept at teaching poor countries how to stop being poor."
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Wall Street Journal Piece Says Afghanistan's Riches are in the People
 Despite decades of conflict, corruption and insecurity, Afghanistan has unrecognized and untapped economic potential in its private sector, according to "Bactrian Gold: Challenges and Hope for Private-Sector Development in Afghanistan," the second paper in the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's Expeditionary Economics Research Series, which is reconsidering the United States' approach to economic development in areas affected by conflict and natural disasters.
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Foreign Affairs Essay Introduces Expeditionary Economics
 In an article in the May/June 2010 issue of Foreign Affairs, Kauffman Foundation President and CEO Carl Schramm builds on extensive Kauffman research to introduce the challenge of igniting and sustaining economic growth during and especially after major conflicts.
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Kauffman CEO Discusses Expeditionary Economics on Charlie Rose
 Carl Schramm appeared on the Charlie Rose Show on PBS to discuss how entrepreneurship might be key to reconstruction efforts following foreign conflicts and natural disasters.
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Summit on Entrepreneurship and Expeditionary Economics
 From May 25 through May 27, 2010, the Kauffman Foundation and the Command and General Staff College Foundation at Ft. Leavenworth convened in Kansas City an extraordinary and unprecedented Summit on Entrepreneurship and Expeditionary Economics.
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Fast Company: How America's Top Military Officer Uses Business to Boost National Security
 This article, the cover story of the May, 2010 issue of Fast Company, notes Admiral Mike Mullen's meeting with the Kauffman Foundation to discuss expeditionary economics.
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