Research Policy and Review 24. State Science Policy and Economic Development in the United States: A Critical Perspective
The economic impact of two major recessions in the United States (in the 1970s and early 1980s), together with cutbacks in federal spending during the 1980s, have made individual states more aware of their comparative advantage both in economic and in political terms. As a result, states have become more explicitly concerned with their own science policies and with how technological innovation can enhance their prospects for economic development. In this paper we explore the complex nature of science policy in the US intergovernmental system, examine the rigorous resource allocation issues involved, and look at a number of different types of technology-based economic development policies that have to date grown around the country.