Technology, enterprise, and American economic growth

Journal Article · Fri Mar 05 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.215.4537.1204· OSTI ID:5557655

Lewis, J D

America may have once led the world in economic development based on technology, but US firms are no longer matching foreign competitors in either the domestic or world markets. Mr. Lewis feels that much of the US supremacy was a post-war phenomenon due to European refugee scientists. Economic and technological strength are more fundamental than deregulation, low expenditures for research and development, lack of capital and long-range planning, and other arguments that, if reversed, would revitalize American industry. The author reviews the relationship of technology and economic growth, pointing out that Japanese industry has faced many of the same problems with different behavior patterns. The variations in behavior due to differences in social values, priorities, and attitudes affect individual performance and response to innovation. Inflation increases the pressure for short-term gains and encourages analytical management. Mr. Lewis thinks that, for international competition to move Americans to develop a sense of common interest between labor and management and producer and consumer, industry must lead the effort to unmask the adversarial barriers to mutual trust. 52 references, 1 figure, 3 tables. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 5557655
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 215
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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