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Regional effects of university funding: Excellence at the cost of regional disparity?

Author

Listed:
  • Johannes Koenig

    (University of Kassel)

  • Thomas Brenner

    (Philipps University Marburg)

  • Guido Buenstorf

    (University of Kassel
    IWH Leibniz Institute of Economics
    University of Gothenburg)

Abstract

We investigate regional repercussions of the recent shift toward focusing academic excellence in German science policy. We find that the regional concentration of merit-based public research funding has increased since the late 1990s. However, it is challenging to identify the characteristics of winning and losing regions. There is some evidence indicative of advantages for regions with larger overall university size. In contrast, our results do not suggest that more urbanized regions, or regions with stronger private-sector R&D activity, benefit disproportionately from the policy shift.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Koenig & Thomas Brenner & Guido Buenstorf, 2017. "Regional effects of university funding: Excellence at the cost of regional disparity?," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 37(2), pages 111-133, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jahrfr:v:37:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s10037-017-0117-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10037-017-0117-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Krieger, Bastian, 2024. "Heterogeneous university funding programs and regional firm innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(5).
    2. Buenstorf, Guido & Koenig, Johannes, 2020. "Interrelated funding streams in a multi-funder university system: Evidence from the German Exzellenzinitiative," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(3).
    3. Blume, Lorenz & Brenner, Thomas & Bünstorf, Guido & König, Johannes, 2020. "Räumliche Implikationen verstärkter Drittmittelorientierung in der Hochschulfinanzierung," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Postlep, Rolf-Dieter & Blume, Lorenz & Hülz, Martina (ed.), Hochschulen und ihr Beitrag für eine nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung, volume 11, pages 208-232, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    4. Blandinieres, Florence & Krieger, Bastian & Pellens, Maikel, 2021. "Cluster support activities in the German biotechnology sector," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 233052.
    5. Thomas Brenner & Daniel Schiller, 2019. "Regional Interaction and Effects of Universities: Introduction to the Special Issue," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 39(2), pages 113-117, October.
    6. Lorenz Blume & Thomas Brenner & Guido Buenstorf, 2017. "Universities and sustainable regional development: introduction to the special issue," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 37(2), pages 103-109, October.
    7. Katarina Weßling & Nora Bechler, 2019. "Where do regional influences matter? The impact of socio-spatial indicators on transitions from secondary school to university [Wo hat Region einen Einfluss? Effekte sozialräumlicher Indikatoren au," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 39(2), pages 163-188, October.
    8. Ivo Bischoff & Julia Hauschildt, 2019. "Vocational schools as an instrument of interregional competition—Empirical evidence from German counties [Berufsschulen als Instrument im interregionalen Wettbewerb – Ergebnisse einer Analyse für d," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 39(1), pages 65-89, February.
    9. Krieger, Bastian, 2023. "Heterogeneous regional university funding and firm innovation: An empirical analysis of the German excellence initiative," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-006, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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