"[This country] particularly over the past three decades, has developed a sophisticated and complex innovation system in which the government plays an absolutely central role."

Why country is this?

"The government began to invest in technological expertise for military purposes"

"used policies such as tariffs and government procurement contracts to nurture new industries"

And more...

"Providing more than $2 billion per year in direct support to high-tech firms, the program has nurtured new enterprises and moved hundreds of new technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace."

You'll think it's China. In fact, it's the United States.

Fascinating on role of US government in promoting technological innovation

Too little read & never mentioned in debates over US-China tech race https://www.amazon.com/State-Innovation-Fred-L-Block/dp/1594518246/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=fred+block&qid=1599528576&sr=8-3

However, to say that China and USA have both pursued state-led innovation does not mean they are identical

Yes, both use subsidies, tariffs, incentives, built infrastructure, w govt agencies involved

But the governing system is different

Interestingly, the authors explain that state-led innovation in the US was hidden from the public because it defied the ideology of "market fundamentalism"

I love this observation: the state can serve as "brokers" of intellectual property rights protection

SO MUCH MORE interesting than classical assumptions of state as "protector" of property rights

In my view, an example of academic speak obscuring a simple point

Translation: "Complex equality" means we each get what matters to us. That way, we benefit from cooperation.