> value of fusion research or asteroid mining is potentially very high, there is a large probability of failure
it's not that the probability of failure is high - more that the value creation is not capture-able by private interests.
Fusion research, or anything that is fundamental research leading to new tech, will unlikely to bring private wealth to those who fund it. Applied research, on the other hand, would. So you do see well paid researchers in fields, such as pharmaceuticals.
Wall-street investment bankers get paid a lot because all of the value that is created there get captured - very little of it flows out into society.
it's not that the probability of failure is high - more that the value creation is not capture-able by private interests.
Fusion research, or anything that is fundamental research leading to new tech, will unlikely to bring private wealth to those who fund it. Applied research, on the other hand, would. So you do see well paid researchers in fields, such as pharmaceuticals.
Wall-street investment bankers get paid a lot because all of the value that is created there get captured - very little of it flows out into society.