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: China and the EU Invest More in Research at Government Institutions and Universities Than the US
In 2023, the United States invested about $175 billion in research conducted at government institutions and universities. That same year, the EU invested about $180 billion, and China about $200 billion.
The Bayh-Dole Act’s Role in Stimulating University-Led Regional Economic Growth
Universities play a pivotal role in America’s technology economy, serving as a crucial source of research, inventions, patents, start-up technology companies, and regional economic and employment growth. The Bayh-Dole Act has played an instrumental role in spurring academic technology transfer activities that serve as vital drivers of American innovation.
Fact of the Week: China Has Surpassed the US in the Number of Drug Clinical Trials, With 1,100 More Trials Listed
China listed 7,100 clinical trials in 2024, while the United States held 6,000.
Canada’s Mining Industry Needs 21st-Century Data
It’s more important than ever for Canada to invest in domestic production capabilities. Natural Resources Canada must update its value-added analysis to clarify the current state of the mining industry and guide sound industrial policymaking.
Wages Are Up. Let’s Keep It That Way
New BLS data shows wages for the bottom fifth percentile of earners grew 49 percent in the last 10 years, versus 31 percent for the top fifth. Policymakers should spur productivity growth to keep raising incomes across all socioeconomic levels.
Underinvestment in Capital Equipment Hinders Canadian Productivity Growth
Canadian firms are underinvesting in productivity-enhancing capital such as machinery, software, and advanced technologies. Without targeted reforms to boost investment and improve data collection, Canada risks falling further behind in global competitiveness and economic growth.
Short-Circuited: How Semiconductor Tariffs Would Harm the U.S. Economy and Digital Industry Leadership
Imposing blanket tariffs on U.S. semiconductor imports would imperil U.S. leadership across a broad range of digital and nondigital industries while significantly decreasing U.S. economic growth, raising prices, and jeopardizing broader U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
Fact of the Week: Improving Internet Access Positively Affects the Health and Well-Being of First-Generation Immigrants
A recent working paper finds that increasing Internet coverage from 0 to 50 percent in home countries increases the subjective well-being of immigrants.
America Is Falling Behind on University Research
The United States is falling behind its global peers in funding university research, now ranking 27th in the OECD. To maintain global leadership and compete with countries like China, policymakers must reverse the dangerous cuts to university research.
Fact of the Week: 20.5 Percent of Frequent Generative AI Users Report Saving Four or More Hours Weekly at Work
A survey conducted in November 2024 finds that 20.5 percent of workers who used generative AI at least once over the previous week reported saving four hours or more in work time.
The State Hamilton Index: Most States Underperform in Advanced Industries
Innovation-driven production is key to reclaiming U.S. dominance on the international stage. Yet, all but a few U.S. state economies are less concentrated in advanced industries than the world average—and only one is ahead of China.
Fact of the Week: The United States Faces a $3.7 Trillion Gap in Infrastructure Investment Spending
The United States is falling $3.7 trillion short of the $9.1 trillion required to bring infrastructure to a good level of repair nationally.
