EUSECON · A New Agenda for European Security Economics

EUSECON analyses the newly emerging field of European security economics by identifying the nature and scope of this research field, by bringing together the leading European research players in this field and by building new analytical and conceptual insights on the most pressing research needs in this field. By implementing these research activities, EUSECON will establish an operational network of the leading European researchers in security economics, which in turn will enable research-based policy advice on economic aspects of security. In order to achieve these aims, EUSECON builds an integrated and collaborative approach, which will lay the foundations for the development of a new European multidisciplinary research agenda in security economics and security policy. The unifying theme of the proposed research are the human drivers of the new insecurity, that is terrorism and organized crime. Specifically, EUSECON analyses the causes, dynamics and long-term effects of both human-induced insecurity threats and European security policies. The approach will promote in-depth understanding of insecurity threats emerging from terrorism and organised crime with a view to uncover the much-needed information base for effective domestic and international security policy. In terms of proven research performance in this field and relevant past policy advisory activities, the sixteen members of the consortium represent the best economists and social scientists in this field in Europe today. It is expected that EUSECON will significantly advance the European research capacity well beyond the life.-time of this project, even vis-à-vis the currently strongly dominant American research capacity. This will also improve the long-term viability of the European policy making capacity on security and competitiveness in this field.