In other words, roughly half of the jobs created were indirect, a result of the economic multiplier effect from federal spending.

FORBES: Defense Cuts Could Destroy A Million Jobs

It drives green employment, such as people who will install solar panels on rooftops, do energy audits, or help install and maintain wind turbines, thus generating its own economic multiplier effect.

FORBES: BY DENNIS POSADAS

Analysts argue endlessly about what this economic multiplier effect might be, however a very conservative guess would be that each direct job leads to the creation of at least one indirect job (the real number is probably over twice that).

FORBES: Defense Cuts Could Destroy A Million Jobs

My charity chooses ones which meet social and economic objectives while also delivering a "multiplier" effect in the local economy.

BBC: Viewpoint: A time to stop giving?

To rewind, an economic consultancy reported for Scottish Enterprise 10 years ago that there is a multiplier effect in the west of Scotland - that is, local businesses supply Faslane and Coulport, and then a portion of the salaries of 6, 500 people is spent on local businesses.

BBC: Analysis: Jobs supported by the UK's nuclear deterrent

However, the multiplier effect (the effect that a dollar of government spending has on economic growth) is 0%.

FORBES: The Fiscal Cliff: Kids Will Be Kids