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R&D Investment Trends: U.S. Needs More High-Tech

Published

Author(s)

Gregory C. Tassey

Abstract

A varied set of barriers inhibit approaching some optimum for R&D investment. Among them is the fact that the majority of R&D is still performed in the manufacturing sector, which continues to shrink as a portion of GDP. R&D Performance within the U.S. economy is also concentrated geographically, with 10 states accounting for two-thirds of total R&D. Moreover, the composition of R&D is skewed among the portfolio of key emerging technologies and among phases in the R&D process. Whereas the portfolio composition problem is relatively easily solved, the phase composition problem is not.The result of a continuation of these patterns will be constraints on long-term economic growth. Several major indicators support this prediction. Productivity growth, recently touted as being above trend, may not be as robust as supposed. The trade balance in goods has been in deficit for over 20 years and the high-tech portion of this trade will move into deficit for the first time in 2002. Finally, corporate profits' share of GDP has been below rend for the past two decades. These indicators should not be ignored in the face of steadily increasing technology-based global competition.
Citation
Research Technology Management
Volume
46
Issue
No. 2

Keywords

competitiveness, long-term growth, R&D investment, R&D policy

Citation

Tassey, G. (2003), R&D Investment Trends: U.S. Needs More High-Tech, Research Technology Management (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created March 1, 2003, Updated February 17, 2017