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Consensus Study Report

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This volume provides a state-of-the-art review of the relationship between technology and economic growth. Many of the 42 chapters discuss the political and corporate decisions for what one author calls a "Competitiveness Policy." As contributor John A. Young states, "Technology is our strongest advantage in world competition. Yet we do not capitalize on our preeminent position, and other countries are rapidly closing the gap." This lively volume provides many fresh insights including "two unusually balanced and illuminating discussions of Japan," Science noted.

Suggested Citation

National Research Council. 1986. The Positive Sum Strategy: Harnessing Technology for Economic Growth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/612.

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Publication Info

656 pages |  6 x 9 |  Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-309-07848-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/612
Chapters skim
Front Matter i-xvi
Editors' Overview 1-16
The Impact of Techological Innovation: A Historical View 17-32
Macroeconomics, Technology, and Economic Growth: An Introduction to Some Important Issues 33-56
Microeconomics and Productivity 57-76
Dynamic Competition and Productivity Advances 77-88
The Effect of Recent Macroeconomic Policies on Innovation and Productivity 89-92
Macrorealities of the Information Economy 93-104
Harnessing Technology for Growth 105-114
Technology and Its Role in Modern Society 115-118
National Science Policy and Technoligical Innovation 119-168
The Role of the Legal System in Technological Innovation and Economic Growth 169-190
The Bhopalization of American Tort Law 191-212
From Understanding to Manipulating DNA 213-226
The Physical Sciences As the Basis for Modern Technology 227-254
Technological Education 255-262
Basic Research in the Universities: How Much Utility? 263-274
An Overview of Innovation 275-306
Microeconomics of Technological Innovation 307-326
Macroeconomics and Microeconomics of Innovation: The Role of the Technological Environment 327-332
Technical Change and Innovation in Agriculture 333-356
Technology Adoption: The Services Industries 357-372
Technology Diffusion, Public Policy, and Industrial Competitiveness 373-392
Determinants of Innovative Activity 393-398
Programmed Innovation--Strategy for Success 399-416
The Chemical Industry: Challenges, Risks, and Rewards 417-422
Entrepeneurship and Innovation: The Electronics Industry 423-428
Entrepeneurship and Innovation: Biotechnology 429-436
Impact of Entrepeneurship and Innovation on the Distribution of Personal Computers 437-440
Making the Transition From Entrepeneur to Large Company 441-442
Cultivating Technological Innovation 443-452
The Role of Large Banks in Financing Innovation 453-466
A View From Wall Street 467-472
Trends in Financing Innovation 473-478
Technology and Trade: A Study of U.S. Competitiveness in Seven Industries 479-500
Global Competition--The New Reality: Results of the President's Commission on Industrial Competitiveness 501-510
The Need for National Consensus to Improve 511-516
Innovation, Job Creation, and Competitiveness 517-526
Dangers in U.S. Efforts to Promote International Competitiveness 527-534
Government Policies for Innovation and Growth 535-540
The Japanese Challenge in High Technology 541-568
The Macroeconomic Background for High-Tech Industrialization in Japan 569-582
Capital Formation in the United States and apan 583-606
Contributors 607-622
Index 623-640

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