he pushed for government funding ohe saw the nationlop ar exciting breakthroughs in robotics, electronicsd genetics. he discovered that his options were limited. technogyxpert jordan baruch exai. invation for a space pgram, for defense, for anything wre e federal government isusmer is easy to take care of. the stuff that's difficult isnnovation where you ani are the customer. it requires knowlee of t market and annvironment that will encourage invation. spite increasing foreign competition, american investment in research and development was declining asercea. why were businesses in rso reluctant to investt inesearch and depment? we asked proctivity expert edwimansfield. one of the most important factors is that the firm cannot appropriate all of the social benefits. if a firm comes forth with a new product, a new process, many of the benefits from the process or product accrue to spill out to the firm's customers, the firm's suppliers-- others besides that firm. and so consequently, because the fi can'appropriate all of the benefits it creates, it tends to underinvest in that form of act