Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds:

"Well, you're exactly right. The U.S. used to be known, of course, as a manufacturing economy. We're now known as an innovative economy. And indeed, we have to do that because we can't compete with low-cost manufacturers. So on that issue, are we viewed as an innovative country? And the answer from a new global survey of people, experts all around the world, is 'yes.' The U.S. still by far is viewed as the leader in all areas of innovation, in areas like technology, energy, computers and telecommunications. For example, 87 percent of the respondents said the U.S. was the world leader in software innovations. Second was India, mentioned by only 6 percent of the respondents. We have a similar big lead in biotech. Eighty-five percent said we were the leader. Three percent said the runner-up, Germany, was the leader. So this is extremely crucial because this is how the U.S. is going to compete in the future, developing, modifying and taking to market new, innovative products."