Young Americans, ages 18 to 24, are particularly concerned with the role of innovation to the future success of the United States, with more than 87 percent agreeing that innovation was “very important” to the U.S. remaining a world economic leader, revealed the poll. Likewise, 50 percent of young Americans said that the technology sector, more than any other industry, had the best potential to create future jobs.
“For the past century, the United States has been the world leader in innovation, but the American public is concerned that the future of this great nation will be placed in jeopardy by excessive government spending and federal policies that fail to take innovation into account,” said Shapiro. “But despite their concerns they remain hopeful that innovation can be the driving force in a U.S. economic recovery.”
While Americans pointed to innovation and technology as key economic drivers, they remained concerned about several looming policy issues: the federal deficit, health-care reform, and the state of U.S. competitiveness relative to other nations.
- Deficit Seen as Looming Threat to U.S. Economy – Nearly 60 percent of Americans agree at the highest level (level 5 on a five-point scale) that the rising national deficit will have a “major impact” on the prosperity of future generations. But when it comes to reducing the deficit, Americans were largely split on three issues: discontinuing corporate bailouts (23 percent), reducing military spending (20 percent), and relying on the free market to correct the imbalance (31 percent).
- Medical Innovation Lost in Health-Care Debate – When it comes to health-care reform, nearly 60 percent of Americans said that they were concerned that current path being taken by Congress would be detrimental to medical innovation. Tensions seemed to run high: nearly half of respondents said they were “very concerned.”
- Next Bill Gates Most Likely From India and China – When asked where the “next Bill Gates will come from,” 40 percent of Americans predicted either India or China.
- U.S. Will Struggle to Regain Competitiveness Without Innovation – After the World Economic Forum reported the United States dropped its global competitiveness ranking while India, China and Brazil experience gains, 74 percent of Americans said it was unlikely the United States would regain its status next year. But 44 percent pointed to innovation was the most important factor in seeking U.S. competitiveness.
CEA founded the Innovation Movement (www.innovation-movement.com), a national grassroots campaign, to organize Americans around innovation policies that would lead the U.S. economic recovery and job creation. In just six months, the campaign has grown to nearly 40,000 members who support policies such as broadband expansion, wireless spectrum growth, alternative energies, an expanded H1B visa program, and international trade. The campaign supports a free-market environment with reduced government spending.
“We created the Innovation Movement to inspire Americans that technology and innovation, when met with the right policy action from the government, can help mend the global economy and lead the United States into a bright era of prosperity,” said Shapiro. “Americans have reacted to that mission and joined the call to action.”
