Liberal Arts Services

Economic Implications of Government Technology Policy

While recent history shows how military and security concerns have been at the forefront of much science and technology research in the US, the end of the Cold War removed the motivation of competition for survival. Science and technology are often now promoted as beneficial to the national economy rather than national security. There is a prevailing belief that investment in nanotechnology, biomedicine, and new computing technologies have broader implications for the US position in the global economy. In his 2006 State of the Union speech, President George W. Bush emphasized the importance of scientific research and education to maintaining national competitiveness in the global marketplace:

"And to keep America competitive, one commitment is necessary above all: We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity. Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hard-working, ambitious people — and we are going to keep that edge. Tonight I announce the American Competitiveness Initiative, to encourage innovation throughout our economy, and to give our nation's children a firm grounding in math and science. First: I propose to double the federal commitment to the most critical basic research programs in the physical sciences over the next 10 years. This funding will support the work of America's most creative minds as they explore promising areas such as nanotechnology, supercomputing, and alternative energy sources."

Bush was continuing a theme promoted by President Bill Clinton, who in the late 1990s began pushing for a coordinated national science policy on nanotechnology that resulted in the introduction of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in 2000. Like the Space Race before it, this initiative was influenced by what was perceived to be a significant national interest requiring the force of public policy behind it. The enormous national effort to send a man to the moon, however, emerged at a time when the policies and fears of the Cold War were geared towards maintaining technological, military, and moral superiority over the Soviet Union. An unchallenged US presence in space was construed as essential for national security and national pride.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the threat of communism was no longer a rationale driving US policy. Instead, the threat of capitalism in the form of international economic competition has arisen as a focus driving policymakers to reframe the public debate and reallocate government monies for basic scientific research.