Terrorism risk determines homeland security spending

A new study in Policy Studies Journal reveals that measures of terrorism risk are found to be positive determinants of Homeland Security funding, while measures of political influence and party affiliation of elected officials do not affect distribution of grants.

Tyler Prante of Central Washington University and Alok K. Bohara of the University of New Mexico statistically analyzed the funding pattern of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from 2004 to 2006.

Results indicate that DHS funding outcomes are generally consistent with assessed terrorism risk, in particular with respect to high-risk states. Despite assertions to the contrary, researchers did not identify a positive relationship between party affiliation or congressional influence and funding outcomes.

"Though our results should be taken with appropriate consideration, we find the funding pattern to be inconsistent with the claim of DHS grants being distributed by political and not terrorism risk considerations," the authors conclude.

Source: Wiley