The Economics of Science and Technology

by Feldman, Maryann P.; Link, Albert N.; Siegel, Donald S.

• ISBN13: 9781402070006
• ISBN10: 1402070004
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-05-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

This volume provides an overview of research on key topics in the economics of science and technology. These topics include the role of patents and intellectual property protection, the relationship between R&D and economic growth, R&D tax policy, government investment in infrastructure technology, public-private technology partnerships, labor market policies, and evaluation and assessment of technology programs. Much of this literature is new, so the time is ripe for a synthesis and critique of existing studies. The book offers an overview presented from an applied perspective, stressing historical and institutional factors. This book will be particularly useful to students interested in pursuing research on these topics and to policy makers who want a user-friendly summary of recent studies on the economic implications of technology policy.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	xi
List of Figures	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
Introduction	1	(6)
Fundamental Definitions	3	(2)
Overview of the Book	5	(2)
An Historical Perspective	7	(14)
The Colonial Period	7	(3)
Toward a National Science and Technology Infrastructure	10	(1)
Toward an Industrial Science and Technology Infrastructure	11	(1)
World War I and the Years that Followed	12	(2)
World War II and the Years that Followed	14	(7)
Economic Growth and Technological Change	21	(6)
Dimensions Of R&D	27	(16)
Sources of Funding of R&D	27	(3)
R&D Performers	30	(2)
R&D by Character of Use	32	(1)
R&D Activity in Large and Small Firms	33	(4)
R&D Activity by Geographic Location	37	(1)
R&D-to-Productivity Growth Relationship	38	(5)
The Entrepreneurial Process	43	(4)
Government's Role in Innovation	47	(6)
Economic Rationale for Government Involvement	47	(2)
Barriers to Technology and Market Failure	49	(4)
The Patent System	53	(6)
Tax Incentives	59	(6)
The Economics of Tax Credits	60	(1)
The R&E Tax Credit	61	(4)
Research Collaborations	65	(10)
Semiconductor Research Corporation	65	(2)
Public Policy toward Research Collaborations	67	(2)
Trends in RJVs	69	(1)
Universities as Research Partners	70	(2)
Government Laboratories as a Research Partner	72	(3)
Public/Private Partnerships	75	(8)
Sematech	77	(2)
Small Business Innovation Research Program	79	(1)
Advanced Technology Program	80	(3)
Infrastructure Technology	83	(10)
Federal Laboratory System	83	(1)
National Institute of Standards and Technology	84	(5)
The Economics of Standards	89	(4)
An Integrated Entrepreneurial Process	93	(4)
Labor Market for R&D Scientists and Engineers	97	(6)
Foreign-Born Scientists and Engineers	98	(1)
R&D Policy on S&E Labor Markets	98	(2)
Women in Science	100	(1)
Forecasting Scientific Labor Markets	100	(3)
Public Accountability	103	(10)
Performance Accountability	104	(3)
Fiscal Accountability	107	(1)
Systematic Approaches to the Evaluation of Technology-Based Programs	108	(3)
Program Evaluation	111	(2)
Conclusions	113	(4)
References	117	(14)
Index	131