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The Effects of Research & Development Funding on Scientific Productivity: Academic Chemistry, 1990-2009

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  • Joshua L Rosenbloom
  • Donna K Ginther
  • Ted Juhl
  • Joseph A Heppert

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between Research & Development (R&D) funding and the production of knowledge by academic chemists. Using articles published, either raw counts or adjusted for quality, we find a strong, positive causal effect of funding on knowledge production. This effect is similar across subsets of universities, suggesting a relatively efficient allocation of R&D funds. Finally, we document a rapid acceleration in the rate at which chemical knowledge was produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s relative to the financial and human resources devoted to its production.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua L Rosenbloom & Donna K Ginther & Ted Juhl & Joseph A Heppert, 2015. "The Effects of Research & Development Funding on Scientific Productivity: Academic Chemistry, 1990-2009," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0138176
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138176
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    1. Payne A. Abigail & Siow Aloysius, 2003. "Does Federal Research Funding Increase University Research Output?," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 3(1), pages 1-24, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zharova, Alona & Härdle, Wolfgang Karl & Lessmann, Stefan, 2023. "Data-driven support for policy and decision-making in university research management: A case study from Germany," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 308(1), pages 353-368.
    2. Laura Sinay & Rodney William (Bill) Carter & Maria Cristina Fogliatti Sinay, 2020. "In the race for knowledge, is human capital the most essential element?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Sujit Bhattacharya & Ravinder Kumar & Shubham Singh, 2020. "Capturing the salient aspects of IoT research: A Social Network Analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(1), pages 361-384, October.
    4. Corinna Ghirelli & Enkelejda Havari & Elena Meroni & Stefano Verzillo, 2023. "The long-term causal effects of winning an ERC grant," Working Papers 2313, Banco de España.
    5. Olof Ejermo & John Källström, 2016. "What is the causal effect of R&D on patenting activity in a “professor’s privilege” country? Evidence from Sweden," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 677-694, October.
    6. Ejermo, Olof & Sofer, Yotam, 2024. "When colleges graduate: Micro-level effects on publications and scientific organization," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    7. Kazuki Nakajima & Kazuyuki Shudo & Naoki Masuda, 2023. "Higher-order rich-club phenomenon in collaborative research grant networks," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(4), pages 2429-2446, April.
    8. Andrea Bonaccorsi & Brigida Blasi & Carmela Anna Nappi & Sandra Romagnosi, 2022. "Quality of research as source and signal: revisiting the valorization process beyond substitution vs complementarity," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 407-434, April.
    9. Rosenbloom, Joshua, 2022. "What Explains Science's Expanded Reliance On Postdoctoral Researchers?," ISU General Staff Papers 202209221250360000, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    10. Graddy-Reed, Alexandra & Lanahan, Lauren & D'Agostino, Jesse, 2021. "Training across the academy: The impact of R&D funding on graduate students," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(5).
    11. David Popp, 2015. "Using Scientific Publications to Evaluate Government R&D Spending: The Case of Energy," CESifo Working Paper Series 5442, CESifo.
    12. Alona Zharova & Wolfgang K. Härdle & Stefan Lessmann, 2017. "Is Scientific Performance a Function of Funds?," SFB 649 Discussion Papers SFB649DP2017-028, Sonderforschungsbereich 649, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
    13. Jarrín-V, Pablo & Falconí, Fander & Cango, Pedro & Ramos-Martin, Jesus, 2021. "Knowledge gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean and economic development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    14. Davut Emrah Ayan & Laurel L. Haak & Donna K. Ginther, 2023. "How many people in the world do research and development?," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(2), pages 270-287, May.
    15. David Popp, 2015. "Using Scientific Publications to Evaluate Government R&D Spending: The Case of Energy," NBER Working Papers 21415, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Sebastian Hoenen & Christos Kolympiris, 2020. "The Value of Insiders as Mentors: Evidence from the Effects of NSF Rotators on Early-Career Scientists," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(5), pages 852-866, December.
    17. Zharova, Alona & Härdle, Wolfgang Karl & Lessmann, Stefan, 2017. "Is scientific performance a function of funds?," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2017-028, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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