Robert D. Atkinson
AmericanConservative
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Robert:
How 'National Developmentalism' Built America
Tariffs, not free trade, led America to industrialize. → Read More
The Declaration for the Future of the Internet Is an Invitation for the EU to Dictate Global Policy
It is a mistake to think that the Internet needs to be governed by one set of laws. Just as nations have different laws in the offline world, they should have different laws in the online world depending on their values, institutions, and legal traditions. → Read More
State and local governments need to stop subsidizing Chinese companies
State and local governments have provided nearly $2 billion in subsidies to Chinese companies investing in the United States. → Read More
Industrial Policy: A Dissent to Charles Schultze’s Dissent
it’s time to stop listening to neoclassical economists when it comes to industrial policy. → Read More
How to improve transatlantic relations without caving to Europe on technology and trade
U.S. and EU negotiators will need to meet in the middle on some critical issues. → Read More
The Case for Repealing the R&D Amortization Provision in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Staring in 2022, a provision in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will require companies to start amortizing their R&D investments over five years instead of expensing them in the same year they incur the costs. Congress should repeal the rule before it takes effect. Otherwise, companies will do less research in the United States, jobs will be lost, and U.S. competitiveness will suffer. → Read More
Automation Is Not to Blame for the Growth of Income Inequality
In short, if we want growth with opportunity, we need more tech and automation, not less. → Read More
Federal Statistical Needs for a National Advanced Industry and Technology Strategy
If the U.S. government is going to develop more effective policies to spur competitiveness, growth, and opportunity it will need to support better data collection, particularly on firms, industries, and technologies. → Read More
Time for an “America First” Science and Technology Policy
Absent a major change in the orientation of foreign research funding – something that will not happen – it is time for Congress to put America first when it comes to science and tech policy. → Read More
Time for Human-Centered Electro-Mechanical Technology (HCEMT)
In a satirical piece, Rob Atkinson describes the current state of the responsible or “human-centered” AI movement, which rejects the use of AI to automate work. → Read More
No, Monopoly Has Not Grown
Alarmists say the economy is experiencing a crisis of market concentration, with dominant players stifling competition in industry after industry. That is the pretext for a push to radically restructure antitrust policy—but newly released Census data largely contradict the claim. → Read More
Federal Funding of University Research Spurs Local Technology Entrepreneurship
Research funding for universities seems to play a unique role in promoting the acceleration of local entrepreneurial ecosystems. → Read More
The case for improving America's research and experimentation tax credit
America is no longer the undisputed leader. There is an intense race for global innovation advantage on all fronts. → Read More
Adopting an Industrial Policy Doesn’t Mean We’re Emulating China
As the Biden administration and Congress consider “industrial policy” legislation (e.g., the Endless Frontier Act, the CHIPS Act, funding for shoring up domestic supply chains, and a more robust R&D credit) it’s perhaps not surprising that many pundits, journalists, and policymakers are asking how this is any different than what China is doing. After all, […] → Read More
How the 'anti-monopoly' left overturned the US antitrust consensus
It’s a case built on half-truths, faulty research, and dubious economic theory, but it seems to be winning the day. → Read More
Calling on the Wrong Profession: Time to Listen Less to Economists
As hard as it is to believe, there was a time – before the New Deal – when economists were largely treated like any other interest group, occasionally saying something interesting, but usually ignored by policymakers. All that changed when Keynesian economics started to be seen to the solution of business cycle downturns, and then […] → Read More
Korea’s Next Innovation Challenge
the core challenge now for the Korean innovation economy is to fully make the switch from being a “fast follower” (an economy in which firms are not on the global leading edge of innovation, but rapidly copy the leaders) to being a global innovation leader. → Read More
Sanders has right goal, wrong target in fight to help low-wage workers
Big companies pay more than small companies, give bigger pay increases and provide better benefits. → Read More
Time for a Federal-State National Economic Development Partnership
A key component to any national advanced industry strategy—and one that should receive welcome bipartisan agreement—should be to help all 50 states expand their state development strategies and better align them to the overall mission of outcompeting China. → Read More
President-Elect Biden’s Agenda on Technology and Innovation Policy
The president-elect’s overall approach to technology and innovation policy appears to be formulated to engage the government as an active partner alongside industry in spurring innovation—but also as a tougher regulator of many tech industries and technologies. → Read More