Claude E. Barfield - Böcker

""How and how much should we seek R&D knowledge to pursue 21st century human and economic goals? The valid options are clearly presented here with incomparable diversity and depth of thought.""—Robert W. Galvin, Motorola, Inc.What are the links between technology and the economy? How much does research and development contribute to economic growth and productivity? In 1972, the National Science Foundation sponsored an historic colloquium on research and development and economic growth/productivity. At that time, the entire field of inquiry was in its infancy. Since then, a great deal of research has been devoted to the subject. This authoritative volume revisits the themes of the original conference and summarizes the contributions of research to the economy and society since that time.In this volume, some of the nation's most distinguished economists and science policy specialists assess the current state of knowledge and note the advances since the initial colloquium; examine recent contributions in light of the heightened awareness of the complexity of the R&D process and the increased international competition in many high-technology sectors; and review the broader implications of the contributions of research in areas such as education, health, the environment, and quality of life. They present a broad and up-to-date summary of how R&D and innovation contribute to economic growth and society. Their essays address such issues as the contributions of targeted national research investment, the differences in social and private rates of return from research, the appropriate mix of public and private support for research, and other critical issues.While the book authoritatively answers many questions, new analytical and policy puzzles have arisen. As the nation moves into a new era, the context and assumptions underlying the research system have undergone a transformation. The future roles of industrial research departments, national laboratories, and research universities will be subject to intense debate and scrutiny. This volume presents compelling evidence of the continuing importance of research and technology to vital national goals.In addition to the editors, the contributors are Michael J. Boskin, Harvey Brooks, Susan E. Cozzens, Bronwyn H. Hall, Lawrence J. Lau, Shirley M. Malcom, Edwin Mansfield, Ernest J. Moniz, David C. Mowery, Van Doorn Ooms, Paul Romer, and Charles L. Schultze.Copublished with the American Enterprise Institute

In this study, Claude Barfield explores the negative consequences of attempts to protect key U.S. manufacturing industries through the use of antidumping laws. These laws are one of the most contentious areas of international trade policy. Barfield believes antidumping laws are fundamentally at odds with the free trade policies that have dramatically improved global economic welfare over the past half-century, and their application, while problematic in any sector, is particularly troublesome in high-technology sectors. The study analyzes how U.S. antidumping actions have been applied in four industries: supercomputers, flat-panel displays, semiconductors, and steel. Through case studies of these industries, Barfield demonstrates both the damage antidumping actions do to market competition and their futility as weapons to save uncompetitive companies and sectors. In each case, the cost to the U.S. economy far outweighed the benefits to the protected industry. Barfield concludes by offering a series of recommendations - including repealing antidumping laws and substituting antitrust actions, or substituting safeguard actions for antidumping - for reforming, if not

The dynamics of the digital economy in the US, Europe and Japan are rather different. Some EU countries come close to the USA as the leading OECD country in the new economy, but Japan faces particular problems in catching-up digitally. Information and communication technology will affect productivity growth, production, the financial system and trade. Setting adequate rules for the digital economy - at the national and international level - is a key challenge for industrialized countries. Moreover, cultural and organizational challenges will also have to be met.