[simonster]

It's possible that academic research causes economic growth, but that it doesn't do so on a country by country basis. A significant proportion of people trained in American research universities are not Americans. Many of these people probably return to their home country where they use their knowledge in industry. Furthermore, anyone who picks up your scientific paper can go ahead and implement what's in it regardless of where they are.

It may be that the we should fund scientific research because it benefits everyone rather than because it gives us an advantage over other nations.