At Macroscience, I’ve argued frequently for a vision of improving science that imagines a revitalized role for government. I believe we need courageous public institutions, armed with potent new policy tools, in order for us to have a well-functioning economy of science. I don’t believe that those institutions are a sufficient condition, but they’re certainly necessary.
Does a Better Science Need the State?
What evidence do we have that the government is any better at counterbalancing than the market?
I agree that this would be a great role for the government, but you could say the same thing about philanthropy, or even corporate labs.