Because industry runs on profits. The dream is to have resources given to you to push forward human intellect without having to answer to short term profits.

Because industry runs on profits. The dream is to have resources given to you to push forward human intellect without having to answer to short term profits. The most useful math today had limited applications when it was invented. Society doesn't highly value these highly valuable contributions, so there is a scarcity in research resources while having the most alluring work. The result? Highly talented people living in apartments with no prospect of affording a family. In support of my point: https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20201/figure/18 https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20201/figure/18 Academia spends 13% of society's overall basic research money yet produces 48% of the overall performance. I don't think tripling public research funding should triple public research output. I think it would give some breathing room for the fantastical "meritocracy" belief to be closer to reality in one sector of society. Also, academia needs to cut the g&a chuff.