This essay deals with how historical knowledge from a research project on economic defense and preparedness planning can inform the contemporary decision-making on the re-establishment of the Swedish civil defense. Among other things, we discuss the arguments regarding a reintroduction of the K-company system in the form it existed during the Cold War in relations to the proposals by the public inquiry Utredningen om näringslivets försörjningsberedskap. To this end, we apply lessons learned and empirical-analytical conclusions drawn from a substantial research survey on business-government relations and the history of the war economy.