ABSTRACT
The United States has probably suffered considerable costs from a general misunderstanding of the concepts of high and low technology for several decades. A more direct policy towards technology-intensive industries is manifest in the provision of test facilities by the public sector to the private sector -- often at an explicit cost to the latter. Public policy towards technology-intensive industries and firms is also manifested in the manner in which governments themselves purchase products and services. National policies towards technology-intensive industries emerge in various ways. The US Federal Railroad Administration committed substantial public funds to the establishment and operation of a railroad test track in Colorado to promote railroad transportation in the United States. In conclusion, political institutions, industry structure, public awareness of the value of science and technology, relationships among national, regional, and local authorities, information flows, and procurement regulations all play roles in the design, implementation, and effects of national policy to advance industrial development.
