Editing Gadsden Purchase (section)

== Cost effectiveness ==
Geologist Harold L. James stated in 1969 about the Gadsden Purchase: "Although the boundary controversy did not teach any lessons or impart any wisdom, it did lead to the purchase of an extremely valuable strip of territory that has more than paid for itself in subsequent mineral and agricultural resources. Despite the comedy of errors, chaos, and misunderstanding, the Southwest must therefore be grateful."<ref name=James1969 />

However, economist [[David R. Barker]] estimated in 2009 that the purchase was likely not profitable for the United States federal government. Stating that "Current historical accounts take it for granted that the purchase has been a boon to the United States", he calculated that the region produces little tax revenue; most mines are on Indian reservations which receive all royalties. The federal government spent a great deal of money during the 19th century to defend the territory from Apaches that would not have been necessary without the purchase.<ref name="uiowa20091106">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/researcher-s-analysis-shows-buying-alaska-no-sweet-deal-for-american-taxpayers|title=Researcher's analysis shows buying Alaska no sweet deal for American taxpayers|last=Barker|first=David R.|date=November 6, 2009|publisher=University of Iowa|pages=38–39|access-date=July 8, 2018}}</ref>