Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream

This is a wonderful book, one that I suggest reading, that blends economics, history, and public policy into a practical action plan. Importantly, it is a plan that if generally followed would benefit large portions of the United States, creating economic benefits across many regions, industries, and groups of people.The proposal is to locate innovation-driven commercial centers in promising cities. The method is to reinvigorate the tradition of broadly-distributed Federal funding for research and development. Money put toward research and development produces new scientific knowledge and practical discoveries that would flow into an institutional arrangement involving the research center, private sector actors, and government entities, each playing a different role, but collectively working to create economic growth and to promote the common good.It is an appealing idea, since it would achieve several important things at once – creating growth and opportunity outside of the glamor-metros; providing a money source for risky or long-term research work that the private sector disfavors; and establishing a model of how public and private sectors can work cooperatively in a way to produces both collective and individual benefits. Also appealing is the prospect that the funding could serve as a corrective to the sector bias in private capital flows toward digital or less capital intensive projects (e.g., software), and away from more physical or capital intensive projects (e.g., manufacturing something).The proposal mostly works within existing institutional structures, and would be using money flows to encourage new activity and to change the working dynamic between the institutions. Although there would likely be a substantial need for new property, technical facilities, infrastructure, etc., existing organizations would provide the oversight. The work and risk around new entity formation would be centered on creating companies based on the discoveries and inventions.The authors are realistic in seeing a substantial private sector role, recognizing that researchers and inventors, as well as the government, will need help shaping their knowledge into a product that can succeed in a market.There are also creative ideas of how to handle the site selection process, and intriguing thoughts around how to socialize the economic benefits that are created.The authors’ funding suggestion is $100 billion per year, which seems modest when compared to the $400 billion per year it would take to match Federal innovation spending during its 1960s peak. A number somewhere in between could make more sense, as it would be a shame to develop a strong plan only to underfund it.

I purchased this book for my 86 year old father, who, when I asked him what he thought of the book, prefaced his response by reminding me that he's been a fiscally conservative Republican his whole life. He said that he hadn't previously considered federal spending for scientific research for scientific purposes (outside of medicine) to be a good idea, but after reading this book he had a new outlook on the subject. He felt the authors made a strong case for the benefits to society at large of doing so. He noted that the authors stated their argument in so many different ways that it got a little redundant, but overall he thought it was a good read.

This was an amazing book. It truly opens your eyes to a whole new perspective of growth in America. As an individual that grew up in Silicon Valley, this book exemplifies all the reasons why we need to invest in developing other areas of our country if we want to be back on top. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking to broaden their perspectives of what it means to be American.

I am an old guy. I was in high school when Sputnik was launched and I remember how we reacted the right way. We were determined to be the best in science and engineering and out compete with the Soviets. This was for our survival. The Soviets posed a mortal military threat to us. We put the resources into basic and applied research and support for science and engineering education. We have, in my opinion, another Sputnik moment with economic competition from China. I don't see the determination to put the resources into basic and applied research and education to outcompete with China. This book helps make the case for support for research as a driver for innovation and economic growth.

Timely. The authors did an excellent job relating the history and how USA managed some of its leaps forward; the players, what measures were taken, and how those benefitted the country. Those measures helped propel the USA into greatness. They then told us some of the steps that can, and should be taken to help the USA take advantage of the current technological and economic climate. A must read for those who believe in and want. A brighter future.

This book was mentioned in the New York Times Morning Newsletter when the Covid vaccine was about to be rolled-out, highlighting the importance of government’s role in science and a public-private partnership.Overall, the book is interesting and highlights the importance of government and policy in the progression of science and technology, and, as a result, the economy. It was hard to get into because at the beginning, the book has many examples similar to Loonshots. As it continued, the book diverged and moved beyond impressive scientific discoveries and examples. I listened as an audiobook— not the most engaging narration.

Really enjoyed this book! The authors make a compelling case for renewed R&D investment in mid-sized cities all across the United States, and a system like Alaska's where all tax payers would be able to share in tech profits, not just the Mark Zuckerbergs of the word. I saw another review of the book that tried to force it onto the spectrum of our current polarized political nightmare...but this book has fans on both sides of the aisle. Don't fall into the trap. It's well researched and when America wins...we all win.

An interesting and well researched book which convincingly shows the role government has to play in successfully allowing the translation of R&D to innovation. Particularly interesting given the current iconisation of uber-entrepreneurs.

The USA would not be what they are today without the industrial policy of the 19th-century, drawn by Alexander Hamilton, and by the considerable amount of public-funded effort in R&D during and after World War 2. Then, tis time (for public debate) to part with the myth of an "american economy success" only lead by a policy of laissez-faire, and to rehabilitate the State's missions which are correcting the market failure, including territorial inequality (as he has already and successfully did with Tennesse Valley Authority) and to be a leading funder for basic sciences and first-stage innovation, the best way for a modern industrial policy. And by that make a stronger economy and better share prosperity for America.That is basically why you need this book if you are interested in economic policies, especially in science and/or industrial policy.