Edward Conard

Top Ten New York Times Bestselling Author

  • “…a fresh argument for the productive value of inequality.” - David Autor, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • “…a very valuable contribution.” - Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury and director of the National Economic Council, president emeritus, Harvard University
  • “…a comprehensive explanation of the modern economy.” - Julian Robertson, Founder, Tiger Management
  • “There are an amazing number of good ideas and interesting points made in Unintended Consequences. The thinking underlying it, and the obvious depth of understanding of the author, are very impressive.” - Steven Levitt, coauthor of Freakonomics; 2004 John Bates Clark Medal
  • “Unintended Consequences is far smarter and more thought-provoking than most economics written for the general public” - Greg Mankiw, Harvard University, Former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors
  • “Unintended Consequences should be read by anyone who takes for granted the superiority of progressive taxation and has not thought carefully about the trade-offs involved.” - The New Republic
  • “…a very valuable contribution.” - Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury and director of the National Economic Council, president emeritus, Harvard University
  • “…challenges misconceptions that distort our economic debates.” - Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute
  • “…reminds us that inequality sends a signal of what society lacks most, in America’s case, entrepreneurship and risk taking.” - Lawrence Lindsey, CEO, The Lindsey Group, former Director of the National Economic Council
  • “…a fresh argument for the productive value of inequality.” - David Autor, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • “Unintended Consequences is full of substance, it is one of the must-read books of the year, and once I finish it I will be giving it a second read through right away.” - Tyler Cowen, Professor, George Mason University
  • “A full-throated defense of economic dynamism.” - The Wall Street Journal
Upside of Inequality Oxford Unintended Consequences

AI Summary. Europe's lack of heavy-lift rocket capacity — capped at ~10 launches per year and ~22,000 kg per flight — leaves it unable to match rivals spending $200bn+ to militarize space with hundreds of satellites and orbital weapons.

Gerry Doyle and Alan Crawford Bloomberg
Date Posted:

Europe has very limited launch capacity relative to other great powers, limiting its ability to reconstruct satellite constellations, which are expected to be destroyed quickly in the opening hours of a general war.

Does Europe have the launch capacity to compete in militarized space?

Satellites for observation, communications, and precise geolocation have been military necessities for years, and new weapons such as orbital interceptors and inspection systems are heading in that direction. China, Russia, and the US are pouring more than $200 billion into such efforts, putting hundreds of satellites in orbit over the last half-decade and testing weapons on Earth and in space. Missing from this intensifying race is Europe, hobbled by misaligned interests, limited national budgets, and the lack of a crucial piece of space technology: enough heavy launchers to make scores of trips to orbit each year. China’s Long March 5 and Russia’s Proton-M and Angara A5 launchers can each take about 25,000 kilograms (55,116 pounds) to orbit. The SpaceX Falcon Heavy can carry almost 64,000 kg. Ariane 6, operated by the France-based commercial launch provider Arianespace SA, can carry about 22,000 kg — but booster production and infrastructure limit it to about 10 launches per year.

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