According to Friedman, how should the United States respond to the challenges of a flattened world? What specific policy recommendations did he propose?

Okay, let's discuss this topic. Thomas Friedman's book The World is Flat was hugely influential in its time. His view on how the United States should respond to the challenges of globalization has a quite clear, and very interesting, core message.

I can help break it down for you in simple terms.

Core Idea: Don't Fear It, Embrace It, and Then Run Faster

Friedman uses a vivid analogy. He says globalization is like a race. In the past, the US was the undisputed champion, and the track had many obstacles, making it impossible for others to catch up. But now, the internet, cheap communication technology, open markets, etc., have flattened those obstacles. The track has become flat land.

This means engineers from India, programmers from China, designers from Eastern Europe can all line up at the starting line to compete with you.

Faced with this situation, you have two choices:

Build Walls: Implement trade protectionism, restrict outsourcing, trying to make the track rugged and uneven again. Friedman believes this is a dead end. It's not only futile, it will also isolate you from the world.
Run Faster: Accept that the playing field is now flat, then train like crazy to make yourself run faster than everyone else.

Friedman is a staunch advocate of the "run faster" approach. All his policy recommendations revolve around making the US "national team" and every American "athlete" stronger and more competitive.

The Specific Policy "Prescription"

Friedman's "prescription" is a multi-faceted approach, covering everything from individuals to the national level. The main points are:

1. Turbo-charged Education

This is the first cornerstone of his prescription. He argues that merely having "good" education isn't enough anymore; it needs to be "turbo-charged."

Focus Especially on STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. He sees these as the foundation for innovation and competitiveness and the source of future high-wage jobs.
Develop the Ability to "Learn How to Learn": In a flat world, knowledge becomes obsolete too quickly. Teaching children a pile of facts is useless because those facts will soon be outdated or easily searchable on Google. The key is to cultivate their curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. These are qualities hard for AI and offshore outsourcing to replace.

2. Portable Social Security and Benefits

This point is crucial and insightful. Think of it this way:

In the US, many people's health insurance and pensions are tied to their employer. If you lose your job or change companies, these benefits can lapse, which is a huge risk. This makes people afraid to change jobs easily or to start a business, fearing loss of security.

Friedman says this won't do! In a flat world, an individual might change jobs several times in their life, or even hold multiple gigs simultaneously. Therefore, benefits should be portable and travel with the person, not be attached to the company.

Individual Retirement Accounts: Your retirement savings plan is tied to you personally, portable to any employer.
Individual Health Insurance: Government should offer health savings accounts or subsidies so individuals can afford insurance even without a fixed job.

The advantage is that this provides workers with a safety net, giving them the confidence to take risks, learn new skills, and adapt to new roles, thereby enhancing the overall dynamism and adaptability of society.

3. Increase Investment in "Basic Scientific Research"

Friedman argues that the government must take the lead by heavily funding basic scientific research.

Why? Because companies like Google and Apple excel at turning existing technology into cool products (applied research). But the most fundamental discoveries – those that might take ten or twenty years to yield returns, like researching new physical particles or new biogenetic techniques – hold little appeal for private companies driven by quarterly profits.

Yet, this fundamental research is precisely the seed that will sprout the "next Google." If governments don't invest, they stifle their nation's future capacity for innovation.

4. Build "21st-Century Infrastructure"

In the past, we said, "If you want to prosper, first build roads" – meaning highways.

Friedman argues that in the 21st century, the "road" refers to the high-speed broadband network (fiber optics). It's essential to ensure every household, every community has access to affordable, high-speed internet. This is like providing every runner with a pair of top-tier running shoes; it's fundamental infrastructure for participating in the competition.

5. Embrace "Smart Globalization"

He's not a blind supporter of free trade. He advocates for trade agreements that are "smart," meaning they must include protections for labor rights and environmental standards.

Simply put: don't just go for the cheapest price. If a country achieves low costs by exploiting workers and destroying the environment, then trading with them is not fair competition. We need a playing field that is both flat and fair, not a contest to see "who can sink the lowest" (a race to the bottom).

To Summarize

Friedman's prescription can be summed up as: Domestically, comprehensively enhance individual citizen competitiveness and the national innovation environment through education, portable benefits, research investment, and infrastructure. Internationally, promote the establishment of a more fairly regulated global system.

His core message is: The world has changed. Rather than complaining or being afraid, roll up your sleeves and make yourself stronger, faster, and more creative. This is the only way for the US to maintain its lead amidst the wave of globalization.