Replies: 2 Comments
Posted by:
Tom West
On Saturday, April 23rd
Isn't this simply a case of economic specialization? NE Asia happens to have a densely concentrated population that makes things like wide-spread broadband adoption a natural development.
Thus it seems to me perfectly natural that they spearhead development of these technologies.
I sincerely doubt that the Japanese are whining about their lack of wheat production and consequent growth and harvesting technologies.
Posted by:
Nathan Smith
On Friday, April 22nd
Maybe. But I'm suspicious of the language being used here. The idea that "Northeast Asia rac[ing] ahead" is some sort of a problem-- as if it's a good thing in itself to be first first first-- is misguided. Also, don't forget revealed preference. Just because we have less broadband doesn't mean we're worse off. It may show that the Japanese, Koreans and so on just like broadband more than we do. The private sector, after all, can also invest in these things. Where's the market failure? Why turn to the government? This is the mentality of a central planner.
That said, there may be a public-goods aspect to broadband use that is not readily apparent. That's the case you have to make.
