Is America falling behind other countries in technology? Recent reports have shown that countries in Asia and Europe have pulled the United States out of the top 10 list. Bloomberg measures innovation metrics and countries are ranked according to their ability to innovate. This year, South Korea ranked first and Sweden was second, while Singapore jumped one spot from last year. Despite this, American universities are struggling to produce enough graduates in the sciences and engineering fields to remain competitive.
U.S. leadership in science and technology
Globalization and the rapid growth of science and technology pose challenges for maintaining U.S. comparative advantage in these fields. In addition, the United States may not have sufficient resources to sustain its scientific infrastructure, education, and workforce. There are many other issues that could undermine U.S. S&T leadership. Some of these include inadequate R&D spending, a lack of qualified workers, and a dwindling attraction of S&T careers.
The United States’ technological primacy and role in science and technology have deteriorated since the Cold War. Government-funded R&D has declined from 1.8 percent of GDP in the mid-1960s to 0.6% today. While private sector funding has made up the difference, a lack of government-funded R&D has created a virulent environment for technological development. The United States needs to rethink its science and technology policy to keep pace with its rivals.
While the Trump administration has been less enthusiastic about broad funding for research and development, its policies have been remarkably optimistic. The Endless Frontier Act, for instance, calls for investing $100 billion over five years in key fields like biomedical research. While this legislation was quickly forgotten, it is a welcome sign of increasing attention to the importance of science and technology. This legislation will help guide the development of new legislation and quell any exaggerated claims that U.S. leadership in science and technology is at risk.
China’s technological superiority
In the context of a globalized economy, China’s technological advances have created concerns both in the U.S. and abroad. The rapid growth of Chinese technology has raised concerns about national security, liberal values, and global good governance. Additionally, there is growing concern about the divergence of standards and norms. This is especially true given that the Chinese technology market has become increasingly disconnected from the Western world.
The Chinese government appears to be focused on creating a tipping point in the international marketplace: the point where multinational corporations will have to locate their most sophisticated R&D facilities and projects in China. China wants to catch up with the U.S. as the most technologically advanced economy in the world. However, many economists believe that Beijing is deviating from the forces that led China to where it is today.
For instance, China hasn’t signed the WTO’s level-playing-field provisions that would require foreign software companies to disclose source codes. But the Chinese government backed down after protests from global vendors. China has also created its own standards for wireless devices, such as 3G mobile phones. These standards will never become global standards, but they give local companies an advantage over foreign ones. A correspondingly weakened American industry is less likely to pursue innovation efforts based on Chinese standards.
Education gap
There’s a huge education gap in America. While funding plays a huge role in this issue, proper education is critical in bridging this gap. Students should be taught how to access and use online resources. There’s a learning gap in middle school, but it extends into many fields of higher education. Here are a few ways to close the gap. Listed below are some of the most effective strategies.
Lack of access to high-speed internet is one of the biggest reasons for the digital divide. While 87 percent of US households have access to computers and the internet, only 73 percent have high-speed broadband. This digital divide is particularly large among lower-income people and populations experiencing homelessness. High-speed internet is essential for students to be able to do their homework, but it is also crucial to ensure access to free public Internet access.
Lack of access to quality education is one of the biggest barriers to upward mobility and career success. In addition to a lack of resources, education in America is unequal. While European and Asian countries fund their schools centrally, the U.S. system provides different learning opportunities to different groups based on their economic status. While richer and higher-income students receive higher education, minority students experience less advanced educational opportunities. For example, poor minority students receive less advanced math and science courses, and their access to college-level technology programs is limited.
Digital divide
The digital divide between rural and urban residents is an ongoing problem. Although the federal government has invested billions in expanding rural broadband, nearly one in four rural Americans still lacks access to high-speed internet. According to a 2018 report by the Census Bureau, there are more than 5 million rural households without broadband internet. These numbers are staggering, and show how a lack of high-speed internet affects entire communities. To solve this problem, policymakers must address the fundamental issue of digital inequalities.
There are several reasons why this divide exists. First, it is due to access. Not everyone has access to broadband service, so it is crucial that broadband service providers increase equity. Furthermore, affordable internet service is important for rural communities. Even those with high-speed internet service can’t access the same resources as people living in more urban areas. Also, a lack of broadband service access is a significant barrier to social and professional advancement. Moreover, communities of color tend to experience the greatest digital divide, due to limited access to technology.
The digital divide is not limited to rural areas. It affects many urban areas, as well. Geographic and socioeconomic factors play a major role. In fact, Detroit is the city with the largest digital divide in America. An estimated 40 percent of Detroit residents live without internet access, making them one of the most isolated cities in the country. Further, rural areas are disproportionately affected by high rates of crime and incarceration. So how can policymakers and local officials address the digital divide?
Importing foreign scientists
The U.S. government has a long history of supporting the study of foreign scientists. In fact, the United States has imported more than 6,000 foreign scientists since the 1950s. These scientists have contributed to many technological advances in the United States. However, a recent study indicates that the number of foreign scientists in the US is falling behind those in China. This may indicate that the U.S. needs to increase its importation of foreign scientists.
Opportunities for public-private partnerships
Digital systems can help scale up tax collection online, predict fraud, and deploy analytics for improved service delivery. In addition, public-private partnerships can unlock important upskilling, reskilling, and tech intensity initiatives for government employees. Such partnerships are also essential for tackling the digital skills gap. In this way, public-private partnerships can help close the digital skills gap and promote equitable education, all while leveraging the strengths of the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
One of the most exciting benefits of public-private partnerships is their potential to boost local economies. Increasing government funding will enable public-private collaboration to develop the talent needed by local economies. Using this method, states such as New Hampshire and Michigan are working to build on this model. Meanwhile, startup companies need support as they grow and become established employers, and a public-private partnership will help them mature into stable companies and scale quickly.
The private partner may face specific risks. These risks can include technical defects, delivery delays, or cost overruns. A public-private partnership may be an efficient option in some cases, but it should be borne in mind that the private party will often bear the burden of project failure. In this context, a public-private partnership is an excellent choice. It helps both parties reap benefits from public-private collaboration.
