Meghan Ostertag
Research Assistant
Meghan Ostertag is a research assistant for economic policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from American University.
Recent Publications
Fact of the Week: A 10 Percent Increase in Robot Density in Manufacturing Sectors Results in a 2 Percent Decrease in Injuries
A study of 15 manufacturing industries across 18 European nations from 2011 to 2019 found that a 10 percent increase in robot density resulted in a 0.07 percent reduction in fatalities and a 1.96 percent decrease in injuries.
Intermediate Goods: The Hidden Cost of Blanket Tariffs
Imposing blanket tariffs on our allies will only weaken American industries. If Trump wants to bring back U.S. manufacturing, placing targeted tariffs on specific Chinese goods is the way to do it.
Fact of the Week: Europe Trails the United States by Over 26 Percent in Share of Global Biopharma R&D
European firms are now responsible for just 29 percent of global biopharma research and development; U.S. firms lead at 55 percent.
Fact of the Week: A New Study Finds the US Share of Global Manufacturing Will Fall to 11 Percent by 2030
A new study finds the U.S. share of global manufacturing will fall to 11 percent by 2030, while China’s will increase to 45 percent.
Fact of the Week: In the 18 FDA-Approved Therapies Developed With NIH Grants, Private Funding Was 66 Times Greater Than NIH Investment
NIH-funded research played a part in the development of 18 FDA-approved therapies between 2000 and 2020, investing $670 million. By comparison, private firms invested $44.28 billion in these therapies, 66 times more than the federal government.
Fact of the Week: A Significant Disruption to Taiwanese Semiconductor Production Could Increase the Prices of US Logic Chips by 59 Percent
A major disruption in U.S. semiconductor trade with Taiwan would result in a 59 percent increase in the price domestic producers have to pay.
Fact of the Week: Finnish Employees Who Were Highly Exposed to Generative AI Experienced Greater Wage Growth
Analysis of Finnish wage data showed that after workers were exposed to generative AI, salaries increased by €78 per month on average across all occupations, the equivalent of 2 percent of the average salary in Finland.
Fact of the Week: Robot Adoption Leads to Economic Growth in Highly Productive Nations
A study found that countries with the highest robot density will see accelerated economic growth from robot adoption and will also see heightened robot accumulation in the future.
The EU Has Been Taking Advantage of America’s Effort to Combat Chinese Economic Mercantilism
The EU over the last 7 years has cravenly ducked the industrial fight against China, attempting to expand its exports while America shoulders the costs. That cannot be allowed to continue as the new Trump administration ratchets up pressure against our common adversary.
Fact of the Week: US Labor Productivity Is Rising, Potentially Suggesting Another Productivity Boom in This Decade
Average annual growth of U.S. labor productivity over the past five years hit 1.9 percent in the third quarter of 2024.
Fact of the Week: Employees at Large Firms Perform More Non-Routine Problem-Solving Than Small Firm Employees.
A recent report analyzed how firm size relates to work tasks to discover how firm size impacts employee tasks, finding that employees at large firms, despite having narrowly defined jobs, perform more non-routine analytical tasks and use information and communication technologies (ICT) more intensively than equivalent workers at small firms.
Fact of the Week: Wages in ICT Services Have Grown Faster Than Wages Within the Total Business Sector in Europe
In the EU-27 countries, from 2013 to 2022, annual wages increased by 0.24 percent in information and communication technology (ICT) services compared to 0.20 percent across the rest of the economy.
