Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

Can public R&D investment revitalize a lagging economy?

The U.S. government spends about 0.7 percent of GDP on scientific research and development, down from 2 percent in the 1960s. Less investment means fewer chances for breakthroughs like the weapon-seeking robots that saved thousands of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and created a new consumer products category. Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on an effort to jump-start public R&D.

Support Provided By
Season
January 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 15, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
January 15, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 14, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 14, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 12, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 12, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 11, 2026 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:52
January 11, 2026 - PBS News Weekend full episode
January 10, 2026 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:44
January 10, 2026 - PBS News Weekend full episode
January 9, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:44
January 9, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
January 8, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
January 8, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator