Prizes for basic research: Human capital, economic might and the shadow of history

Joshua Aizenman; Ilan Noy

doi:10.1007/s10887-007-9018-y

Prizes for basic research: Human capital, economic might and the shadow of history

Joshua Aizenman, Ilan Noy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the distribution of basic scientific research across countries and time, and explain the process that resulted in the United States becoming the undisputed leader in basic research. Our study is based on the records of scientific awards, and on the data of global economic trends. We investigate the degree to which scale/threshold effects account for the number of prizes won. We constructed a stylized model, predicting a non-linear relationship with lagged relative GDP as an important explanatory variable of a country's share of prizes. Our empirical research findings find support for these predictions and the presence of a "winner-takes-all" effect.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	261-282
Number of pages	22
Journal	Journal of Economic Growth
Volume	12
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-007-9018-y
State	Published - 1 Sep 2007
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Basic research
Global economic trends
Human capital
Winner-takes-all

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Economics and Econometrics

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10887-007-9018-y

Cite this

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abstract = "We study the distribution of basic scientific research across countries and time, and explain the process that resulted in the United States becoming the undisputed leader in basic research. Our study is based on the records of scientific awards, and on the data of global economic trends. We investigate the degree to which scale/threshold effects account for the number of prizes won. We constructed a stylized model, predicting a non-linear relationship with lagged relative GDP as an important explanatory variable of a country's share of prizes. Our empirical research findings find support for these predictions and the presence of a {"}winner-takes-all{"} effect.",

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N2 - We study the distribution of basic scientific research across countries and time, and explain the process that resulted in the United States becoming the undisputed leader in basic research. Our study is based on the records of scientific awards, and on the data of global economic trends. We investigate the degree to which scale/threshold effects account for the number of prizes won. We constructed a stylized model, predicting a non-linear relationship with lagged relative GDP as an important explanatory variable of a country's share of prizes. Our empirical research findings find support for these predictions and the presence of a "winner-takes-all" effect.

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Prizes for basic research: Human capital, economic might and the shadow of history

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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