Innovation Mercantilism: the Bad, Ugly and Self-Destructive

How can we reconcile the need to boost the domestic development and production of clean energy technologies with an increasingly rules-based global economy? It's not always so clear cut. According to a new report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), many countries are pursuing policies of "technology mercantilism"--boosting technology exports and therefore growth at the expense of other countries. China, for example, has come under increasing scrutiny for policies to promote clean energy that are clearly protectionist.

Yet not all innovation policies need to be zero-sum. Indeed, global cooperation to promote positive-sum innovation policies is key to fostering shared global growth.

Next week, ITIF will host an event to discuss the findings from their new report, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (and the Self-Destructive) of Innovation Policy."

You can read about the event and register here.