Research and Development, Economic Growth, and National Security

Abstract

Vital interest exists today in government research and development. Thinking people will discuss the underly ing causes for the new interest. They may question, as Dr. Barnett does, the prevalent belief that research and develop ment can be equated with economic transformation or that an increase in economic growth necessitates only an increase in government-sponsored research and development efforts. Ac cepting the fact that a correlation exists between research and development and economic growth, it is necessary to examine the paths open to the government in selecting its policy. Does not the uncertainty involved in research for future military innovations demand a recognition that multiple paths must be tried to achieve the desired results? The ends may best be achieved if government policy indicates only the objectives and allows the decisions for research-in-particular to be made by the separate research organizations. In the nonmilitary fields of research and development, it may be useful for the govern ment to allocate funds to the universities for their research candidates and for the equipment to be used. Though research and development efforts do not necessarily cause economic transformation, there have been some demonstrable positive results, such as the revision of the negative premises for eco nomic growth of natural scarcity theory.—Ed.