[Flusterphonic]

There's some organizational bias (pro-Europe, pro-Scandinavia) in the World Economic Forum, but here's a BBC article to get the ball rolling:

Quote

US 'no longer technology king'
The US has lost its position as the world's primary engine of technology innovation, according to a report by the World Economic Forum.

The US is now ranked seventh in the body's league table measuring the impact of technology on the development of nations.

A deterioration of the political and regulatory environment in the US prompted the fall, the report said.

The top spot went for the first time to Denmark, followed by Sweden.

Innovation

Countries were judged on the integration of technology in business, the infrastructure available, government policy favourable for fostering a culture of innovation and progress and leadership in promoting the usage of the latest information technology tools.

The Networked Readiness Index, the sixth of its kind published by the World Economic Forum with Insead, the Paris-based business school, scrutinised progress in 122 economies worldwide.

Despite losing its top position, the US still maintained a strong focus on innovation, driven by one of the world's best tertiary education systems and its high degree of co-operation with industry, the report said.


NETWORKED READINESS INDEX RANKINGS 2006 (2005)
1: Denmark (3)
2: Sweden (8)
3: Singapore (2)
4: Finland (5)
5: Switzerland (9)
6: Netherlands (12)
7: US (1)
8: Iceland (4)
9: UK (10)
10: Norway (13)
Source: WEF

The country's efficient market environment, conducive to the availability of venture capital, and the sophistication of financial markets, was also given recognition.

Nordic crown

Denmark is now regarded as the world leader in technological advancement, with its Nordic neighbours Sweden, Finland and Norway claiming second, fourth and 10th place respectively.

"Denmark, in particular, has benefited from the very effective government e-leadership, reflected in early liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, a first-rate regulatory environment and large availability of e-government services," said Irene Mia, senior economist at World Economic Forum.

European countries to make the top 20 included Switzerland in fifth place, the Netherlands, one of the most improved in sixth, the UK (nine), Germany (16), Austria (17) and Estonia (20).

While countries from Asia and the Pacific continued to progress, the powerhouse economies of China and India both showed a downward trend.

India was four positions down on last year to 44th, suffering from weak infrastructure and a very low level of individual usage of personal computers and the internet.

China was knocked to 59th place, nine positions down, with information technology uptake in Chinese firms lagging.

link

Why is this happening? Can we turn it around? How?

[nubjamin]

Flusterphonic, on Mar 29 2007, 03:46 PM, said:

Why is this happening? Can we turn it around? How?

off the top of my head, i think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we've given telecom monopolies full responsibility and control over the internet infrastructure. and they, of course, want to milk as much as possible out of every kb/sec of bandwidth.

[Zander]

Honestly?


It's because this country (excuse me, this country's leaders) spend more time and places more emphasis on fighting a war for oil, rather than on education.

If we're better educated, everything else falls into place.

[A_major]

I don't buy it. People come to learn here from all over the world.
That list is tripe.

[Josh]

I have a hard time believing there are no Asian countries on that list.

ETA: from the article:

Quote

While countries from Asia and the Pacific continued to progress, the powerhouse economies of China and India both showed a downward trend.
India was four positions down on last year to 44th, suffering from weak infrastructure and a very low level of individual usage of personal computers and the internet.
China was knocked to 59th place, nine positions down, with information technology uptake in Chinese firms lagging.

Huh. I guess I still find it surprising.

[A_major]

Josh, on Mar 29 2007, 06:27 PM, said:

I have a hard time believing there are no Asian countries on that list.

Me too. Singapore is on there.

I think there should probably be some others as well. Although access to capital must be limited in some of these countries. The list is still bogus.

[Josh]

D'oh! I didn't even see Singapore. I'm still surprised there aren't more though.

[Greta]

Quote

Countries were judged on the integration of technology in business, the infrastructure available, government policy favourable for fostering a culture of innovation and progress and leadership in promoting the usage of the latest information technology tools.

Considering what they looked at to rank this list.... doesn't really surprise me. We say we are innovative, but what from this criteria are we changing? Looking at the part I bolded, our last couple national elections come to mind. Hanging chads, anyone? Are you kidding me? As a country, under our government, I'd probably have to agree that we are not innovative. To be innovative, you have to be risk-takers. I don't see that. We are WAY conservative.

[Obi Wan]

Off the top of my head I'd say that it's because "scientific experiments" such as the one that proves creationism by virtue of the fact that peanut butter doesn't grow mold in its jar aren't getting laughed right out of the fucking room these days. I guess what I'm getting at is that religious fanaticism and advances in scientific thought typically don't go hand in hand. For example, take this article (from Fox News no less) that talks about a study of beliefs concerning creationism and evolution in the US and 33 other countries. The acceptance level of evolution as fact ranked the US second to last with only Turkey coming in with a lower acceptance level for evolution. I find it pretty interesting that the countries listed at the top of the list in the first post of this thread (Denmark, Sweden, etc.) are many of the same countries listed at the top of the list drawn from information pulled from the study I was just talking about.

http://religiousfreaks.com/UserFiles/Image/evolution.chart.countries.large.jpg

I'm not saying that religion makes you dumb, but it seems that there's a definite relationship between increased emphasis on religious belief and decreased interest in science, culturally speaking. Just look at the middle east. What scientific breakthroughs has the middle east given the world since Islam took hold of the region?

[Cappy]

There's also the story of Kurt Wise (as told by Richard Dawkins, it should be noted). He was a Christian geologist. Actually... here... let me cut and paste some other people recounting it:

Quote

He was particularly upset about a well-known Christian geologist who had abandoned his science when it became clear it was not compatible with a literal reading of the Bible. 'He said that even if all the evidence in the world pointed against creationism, he would still be a creationist because that is what the word of God pointed him to.'

Quote

He tells us the story of Kurt Wise, a geologist and paleontologist who trained with Steven Jay Gould. “He ... was infected with deep faith early in life and couldn’t shake it off.” He got a bible and physically cut out verses that he couldn’t get to be consistent with what he’d learned about evolution. He declared, “I couldn’t pick up the bible without it being rent in two… it was there, that night, that I accepted the world of God…”

[Gratefuldecker]

How many of those counries on that list needed there asses saved by the US? Some of them twice in the past 100 years.

I vote Tripe.

ETA: Go America. :unclesam:

[Hobo Inc.]

Quote

'He said that even if all the evidence in the world pointed against creationism, he would still be a creationist because that is what the word of God pointed him to

There is a science teacher at my school who basically believes the same thing. He believes that the world was created in six days because god said so. He also believes that the world is only 6,000 years old.

[SantosLHalper]

Hobo Inc., on Mar 30 2007, 10:13 AM, said:

There is a science teacher at my school who basically believes the same thing. He believes that the world was created in six days because god said so. He also believes that the world is only 6,000 years old.

oh my...

[Obi Wan]

Hobo Inc., on Mar 30 2007, 10:13 AM, said:

There is a science teacher at my school who basically believes the same thing. He believes that the world was created in six days because god said so. He also believes that the world is only 6,000 years old.

See, what I don't understand is how we can tolerate this sort of thing as a society. I mean seriously, how can we allow this sort of thing to happen? We should ridicule the hell out of people who teach that kind of crap. People just have to understand that this sort of thing isn't acceptable and it isn't up for debate. If you believe that and teach that to your students instead of scientific fact you need to be removed from your job - end of discussion. The people who want to believe that the earth is 6000 years old need to go live in their own little bass-ackward country and quit depriving the children of those who value the importance of scientific thought of a proper education. That shit is flat out ridiculous.

[SongTalk]

I'm just hoping I die before this gets out of hand. I am not interested in fighting a war against ignorant, lazy, half assed dogmatism. It's a sad day when your generation has a deeper more fundamental approach to its religion then it's great grand parents did.

[Danimal]

Then there's policies that discourage research, such as the whole stem cell issue...

[Gratefuldecker]

What is this a pity party?

[SongTalk]

Danimal, on Mar 30 2007, 10:38 AM, said:

Then there's policies that discourage research, such as the whole stem cell issue...

Yeah, it's really depressing to think how much of this we've tolerated. I feel like the last 8 years have been just a big desensitization process where I am conditioned to accept anything absurd the government wants to do.

Honestly it's just as much my fault that this is happening as it is this fascist religious regime. We should have stormed capital hill back when they tried to ban gay marriage.

[Gratefuldecker]

just 8 Years, huh?

[SongTalk]

Gratefuldecker, on Mar 30 2007, 10:46 AM, said:

just 8 Years, huh?

Yes! I mean....if you even try to equate what this administration has done to our country to any president of the last 20 years, you need to get back down here on earth with the rest of us and feel this.