It's like this:
Company wants to do R&D, they have a budget, they do math that says they can afford to pay X number of R&D workers with Y budget.
Government changes tax laws in unexpected way, that changes the math so that Y budget only can support X-A R&D workers because the "A" goes to taxes now.
Also important to note, the tech R&D space is a very small part of the overall economy. We exist in a little thought bubble here on HN.
It's like this: Company wants to do R&D, they have a budget, they do math that says they can afford to pay X number of R&D workers with Y budget.
Government changes tax laws in unexpected way, that changes the math so that Y budget only can support X-A R&D workers because the "A" goes to taxes now.
Also important to note, the tech R&D space is a very small part of the overall economy. We exist in a little thought bubble here on HN.