The United States: Leaders in Technology Innovations

2135 Words5 Pages

From the assembly line to the computer processor and Internet, technology innovations that change the world were developed in the United States. Built on a system that encouraged entrepreneurial leadership by rewarding risk, the U.S. economy led the world while its closest competitors insulated themselves from the global economy. Still, the competitiveness of the U.S. is not simply the result of a culture, but a commitment of the public and private sector to invest in new ideas and scientific innovations. Yet, there is a growing concern that America is losing its place as the world’s technology leader. A recent report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation found that the United States ranked sixth among 40 countries and regions, based on 16 indicators of innovation and competitiveness, including venture capital investment, scientific researchers, spending on research and educational achievement. While the United State’s policy has maintained a stable path, the world has changed. For decades most of the world’s economies were a closed system, but, due in part to advances the United State’s advancements in technology, the world has become, in the words of Thomas Friedman, “flatter.” But the question remains, does the emergence of new economies really threaten the competitiveness of the United States? While there are a number of competitiveness factors that, when taken in isolation, would not necessarily constitute a crisis, their interrelationship makes a more compelling argument that the trend is unsustainable.

In order to understand what will make the U.S. more competitive moving forward, it is important to recognize the policy initiatives that led to the current success. Modern focus on technology advancemen...

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...r basic research to encourage active University programs. Financial incentives for corporations should be available to create an atmosphere that encourages all levels of research in the private sector. Additionally, like President Kennedy’s charge to send a man to the moon, leadership at the very highest level could provide a national innovation award to spur innovation to advance national interests, such as environmental protection. Finally, the U.S. should reform its immigration laws, increasing the cap for highly skilled works to encourage foreign students to stay after they graduate. The U.S. should welcome their contribution to U.S. economic growth.

Policy makers only need to look at earlier initiatives to create a path forward. The future depends on the investments the U.S. makes today to keep the nation competitive and ensure long-term economic prosperity.

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