1. National R&D Expenditures and Federal Obligations for R&D, Research, and Basic Research, 1957–2012
Left panel: National R&D expenditures (green) and federal obligations for R&D (dark blue), research (blue), and basic research (light blue) are shown as a percentage of GDP from 1957–2012. Right: Federal obligations for basic research as a percentage of GDP.
Source: Federal obligations for r&d, research, and basic research are from the National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2014 (Arlington, Va.: National Science Foundation, 2014), Appendix Table 4-34, “Federal Obligations for R&D and R&D Plant, by Character of Work: FYs 1953–2012.” National expenditures on R&D are from the National Science Board, National Patterns of R&D Data Update, 2011–2012 (Arlington, Va.: National Science Foundation, 2014), Table 6, “U.S. Research and Development Expenditures, by Source of Funds and Performing Sector: 1953–2012.”
From Restoring the Foundation: The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream (American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 2014)