Federal support for science and technology, after decades of growth, has been declining for several years and faces even deeper cuts as a result of future efforts to balance the budget. In this book, Kenneth Brown assesses the likely consequences of tighter science budgets and suggests ways in which U.S. science can come to terms with downsizing.

After discussing the traditional justifications for governmental support of science, the author analyzes their validity. What can we infer about a future in which the private sector will inevitable play a greater role in scientific research? he asks. The book focuses particularly on the effects of reduced support for research at universities and federal laboratories and considers ramifications for the future international standing of U.S. science.