Base closures rarely cause the catastrophic economic damage communities fear

Evidence

But more recent research from around the globe is coming to a clear conclusion: while communities often anticipate that base closures will cause catastrophic economic damage, generally the impact is relatively limited and in some cases actually positive. In the cases where communities do suffer intense economic harm, most tend to rebound within a few years’ time. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 925

Given the politicized nature of base closures, it’s not surprising that some of the early research into the effects of U.S. base closures was often politicized as well. But more recent research from around the globe is coming to a clear conclusion: while communities often anticipate that base closures will cause catastrophic economic damage, generally the impact is relatively limited and in some cases actually positive. In the cases where communities do suffer intense economic harm, most tend to rebound within a few years’ time. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 925

Categorization

• XREF: Contradicts the common argument (and the Vicenza/base supporters’ claims elsewhere in this book) that local economies depend on bases. — connects to: Base closures do not raise local unemployment and can even help it — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 929; Base closures have no significant or lasting regional economic impact; Military bases provide weaker economic benefits than commonly assumed — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 915
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 925

Broader Connections

• Base closures have no significant or lasting regional economic impact #corroborates (0.70)
• Military bases provide weaker economic benefits than commonly assumed #corroborates (0.55) — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 915