National Policies as Platforms for Innovation: Reconciling a Flat World with Creative Cities

Thomas Friedman tells us the world is flat, but national policies still matter for companies of all sizes looking to innovate and compete in the global marketplace.

“National Policies as Platforms for Innovation: Reconciling a Flat World with Creative Cities,” a study by the Association for Competitive Technology identifies three national policies – robust intellectual property protection, market-based international trade, and objective competition regulation – that are critical to creating a better ecosystem for innovative companies.  The study, analyzes some leading theories of innovation policy, including those of Thomas Friedman, author of “The World is Flat,”and of Richard Florida, author of “The Rise of the Creative Class.” ACT’s experts find merit in both the “flat world” and “making cities attractive to creative people” theories, but conclude that they miss the essential role of specific national policies in promoting an ecosystem for innovation. The study was authored by Steve DelBianco and Braden Cox of ACT.

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ACT Press Release on Study Release

7 February Launch Event: “From Rhetoric to Reality: Making Innovation More than Just a Campaign Slogan”