Every cloud has a silver lining: The United States, terrorism and economic crisis

Abstract

Americans are living through a national tragedy that has paradoxically done them good in more than one sense. Without weapons there are hardly wars, and weapons are not given away: they are sold, and at a high price. For certain kinds of investment, peace is bad business. Thus, days after the catastrophe, when the New York stock exchange reopened, arms companies’ shares rose, becoming a hope for Wall Street and for the US and world economy.