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Effects of Government Spending on Research Workforce Development: Evidence from Biomedical Postdoctoral Researchers

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  • Hyungjo Hur
  • Navid Ghaffarzadegan
  • Joshua Hawley

Abstract

We examine effects of government spending on postdoctoral researchers’ (postdocs) productivity in biomedical sciences, the largest population of postdocs in the US. We analyze changes in the productivity of postdocs before and after the US government’s 1997 decision to increase NIH funding. In the first round of analysis, we find that more government spending has resulted in longer postdoc careers. We see no significant changes in researchers’ productivity in terms of publication and conference presentations. However, when the population is segmented by citizenship, we find that the effects are heterogeneous; US citizens stay longer in postdoc positions with no change in publications and, in contrast, international permanent residents (green card holders) produce more conference papers and publications without significant changes in postdoc duration. Possible explanations and policy implications of the analysis are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyungjo Hur & Navid Ghaffarzadegan & Joshua Hawley, 2015. "Effects of Government Spending on Research Workforce Development: Evidence from Biomedical Postdoctoral Researchers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0124928
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xuhong Su, 2013. "The Impacts of Postdoctoral Training on Scientists' Academic Employment," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 84(2), pages 239-265, March.
    2. Navid Ghaffarzadegan & Joshua Hawley & Anand Desai, 2014. "Research Workforce Diversity: The Case of Balancing National versus International Postdocs in US Biomedical Research," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 301-315, March.
    3. Pleun van Arensbergen & Inge van der Weijden & Peter van den Besselaar, 2014. "Different views on scholarly talent: What are the talents we are looking for in science?," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(4), pages 273-284.
    4. Richard C. Larson & Navid Ghaffarzadegan & Yi Xue, 2014. "Too Many PhD Graduates or Too Few Academic Job Openings: The Basic Reproductive Number R0 in Academia," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(6), pages 745-750, November.
    5. Freeman, Richard B. & Goroff, Daniel L (ed.), 2009. "Science and Engineering Careers in the United States," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226261898, October.
    6. Geoff Davis, 2009. "Improving the Postdoctoral Experience: An Empirical Approach," NBER Chapters, in: Science and Engineering Careers in the United States: An Analysis of Markets and Employment, pages 99-127, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Margaret E Blume-Kohout & John W Clack, 2013. "Are Graduate Students Rational? Evidence from the Market for Biomedical Scientists," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Xiaohuan Lan, 2012. "Permanent Visas and Temporary Jobs: Evidence from Postdoctoral Participation of Foreign PhDs in the United States," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 623-640, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ran Xu & Navid Ghaffarzadegan, 2018. "Neuroscience bridging scientific disciplines in health: Who builds the bridge, who pays for it?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(2), pages 1183-1204, November.
    2. Ghaffarzadegan, Navid & Xue, Yi & Larson, Richard C., 2017. "Work-education mismatch: An endogenous theory of professionalization," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 261(3), pages 1085-1097.
    3. Hyungjo Hur & Maryam A Andalib & Julie A Maurer & Joshua D Hawley & Navid Ghaffarzadegan, 2017. "Recent trends in the U.S. Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (BSSR) workforce," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Hazhir Rahmandad & Keyvan Vakili, 2019. "Explaining Heterogeneity in the Organization of Scientific Work," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(6), pages 1125-1145, November.

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