zslastman comments on Bayesians vs. Barbarians - Less Wrong
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More-developed societies develop technology; less-developed societies use them without paying the huge costs of development.
It's not evident which strategy is a win. Historically, it often appears that those who develop tech win. But not always. Japan has for decades been cashing in on American developments in cars, automation, steelmaking, ICs, and other areas.
If American corporations were required to foot the bill for the education needed for technological development, instead of having it paid for by taxpayers and by students, they might choose not to.
I'm no economist, but don't they already pay for it to a certain extent, in the form of the higher wages educated workers demand?
I think that's more a function of the rarity of the educated individuals of the needed sort, than of the cost of their education.