This study investigates the capabilities of the United States Government to collect and analyze economic intelligence for possible use by U.S. corporations. Focusing predominantly on the U.S. Intelligence Community it reviews the missions, collection methods, and analytical responsibilities of the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and other government entities with economic intelligence functions. The study also reviews the relation between economic competitiveness and national security as articulated by the President and the Department of Defense. It discusses the role of foreign governments in conducting economic espionage for and providing economic intelligence to their own corporations to promote economic competitiveness. The capabilities of the U.S. Intelligence Community are described and evaluated against six criteria: accuracy, cost, releasability, suitability, target accessibility, and timeliness. The study finds that the United States Government can collect and analyze economic intelligence that is usable by private U.S. industry. The Community would need to make some changes to focus on detailed industry information vice broad economic trends; internal assets would require redistribution to perform the mission.

ADA 284559 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)