Federal Government Initiatives and the Foundations of the Information Technology Revolution: Lessons from History

There is little argument that early investment in computing and communications (C&C) research and development has paid off, given the growth and vitality of the computing industry in the US. Less clear are how and why federal C&C research support has been effective overall; guidance for futu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American economic review 1998-05, Vol.88 (2), p.34-39
Main Author: Blumenthal, Marjory S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academia
Clio and the Economic Organization of Science
Communication networks
Communications
Communications technology
Computer industry
Computer science
Computer technology
Computerization
Computers
Federal funding
Funding
Government
Government initiatives
High performance computing
History
Industrial research
Information infrastructure
Information networks
Information technology
Initiatives
Military communications
Objectives
Product development
R&D
Research & development
Research facilities
Scientists
Software
Studies
Technology
World War II
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Summary:There is little argument that early investment in computing and communications (C&C) research and development has paid off, given the growth and vitality of the computing industry in the US. Less clear are how and why federal C&C research support has been effective overall; guidance for future research policy can come from an examination of history. This paper outlines how the organization of federal funding for C&C R&D has helped to make such funding so fertile, noting dimensions that may be of during value even as circumstances change. It focuses on the High Performance Computing and Communications Initiative of the 1980s and early 1990s, which evolved from earlier funding programs and influences current programs and prospects. By design, the paper emphasizes positive aspects that may be relevant for the future.
ISSN:0002-8282
1944-7981