Okay, the US probably does have about 4.5% of the world's population, (check out census.gov's popclock), but I have to take issue with the rest of your thinking.
America is probably best known internationally for its long line of fine engineers. We're famous for going to the moon (or faking it), inventing the modern systems of telephony and a few other 'basic' engineering feats that are pretty well all over the world. Even the worst place I've ever been knows that cars come from America, and that our missiles can go all over the world, ask for directions and then blow up.
At the same time, 6% of the world's engineers doesn't mean much. For example, in the United Kingdom, a Certified Aircraft Engineer is somebody who fixes airplanes. Not what Americans mean at all. In Turkey, something like 60% of the students get an engineering degree, mostly in Civil, and --i live there and this is tongue in cheek-- look what happens when there is an earthquake. I have friends from the Center of Near Eastern Studies in USSR moscow who have 'political engineering' degrees.
The question i'd ask is: how do we do against other countries that are known for inventing things (netherlands, UK, germany, recent japan,...) in terms of a similar level of education?
I'd match your money that the US produces as many engineers as France and Germany combined. Have you been to either of those countries in the past ten years? Everybody there is studying basket weaving!
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Okay, the US probably does have about 4.5% of the world's population, (check out census.gov's popclock), but I have to take issue with the rest of your thinking.
America is probably best known internationally for its long line of fine engineers. We're famous for going to the moon (or faking it), inventing the modern systems of telephony and a few other 'basic' engineering feats that are pretty well all over the world. Even the worst place I've ever been knows that cars come from America, and that our missiles can go all over the world, ask for directions and then blow up.
At the same time, 6% of the world's engineers doesn't mean much. For example, in the United Kingdom, a Certified Aircraft Engineer is somebody who fixes airplanes. Not what Americans mean at all. In Turkey, something like 60% of the students get an engineering degree, mostly in Civil, and --i live there and this is tongue in cheek-- look what happens when there is an earthquake. I have friends from the Center of Near Eastern Studies in USSR moscow who have 'political engineering' degrees.
The question i'd ask is: how do we do against other countries that are known for inventing things (netherlands, UK, germany, recent japan,...) in terms of a similar level of education?
I'd match your money that the US produces as many engineers as France and Germany combined. Have you been to either of those countries in the past ten years? Everybody there is studying basket weaving!