How Economics Shapes Science

Paula Stephan

Published by Harvard University Press 2012

How Economics Shapes Science

Paula Stephan

https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674062757

Overview
Contents

About this book

The beauty of science may be pure and eternal, but the practice of science costs money. And scientists, being human, respond to incentives and costs, in money and glory. Choosing a research topic, deciding what papers to write and where to publish them, sticking with a familiar area or going into something new—the payoff may be tenure or a job at a highly ranked university or a prestigious award or a bump in salary. The risk may be not getting any of that.

At a time when science is seen as an engine of economic growth, Paula Stephan brings a keen understanding of the ongoing cost-benefit calculations made by individuals and institutions as they compete for resources and reputation. She shows how universities offload risks by increasing the percentage of non-tenure-track faculty, requiring tenured faculty to pay salaries from outside grants, and staffing labs with foreign workers on temporary visas. With funding tight, investigators pursue safe projects rather than less fundable ones with uncertain but potentially path-breaking outcomes. Career prospects in science are increasingly dismal for the young because of ever-lengthening apprenticeships, scarcity of permanent academic positions, and the difficulty of getting funded.

Vivid, thorough, and bold, How Economics Shapes Science highlights the growing gap between the haves and have-nots—especially the vast imbalance between the biomedical sciences and physics/engineering—and offers a persuasive vision of a more productive, more creative research system that would lead and benefit the world.

Author / Editor information

Stephan Paula :

Paula Stephan is Professor of Economics at Georgia State University and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. She has served on the Board on Higher Education and Workforce at the NRC, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Council, and the Social, Behavioral, and Economics Advisory Committee at the NSF.

Topics

Frontmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	i
Contents Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
Figures and Tables Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xi
Abbreviations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xiii
Chapter One. What Does Economics Have To Do with Science? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter Two. Puzzles and Priority Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	16
Chapter Three. Money Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	35
Chapter Four. The Production of Research: People and Patterns of Collaboration Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	61
Chapter Five. The Production of Research: Equipment and Materials Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	82
Chapter Six. Funding for Research Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	111
Chapter Seven. The Market for Scientists and Engineers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	151
Chapter Eight. The Foreign Born Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	183
Chapter Nine. The Relationship of Science to Economic Growth Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	203
Chapter Ten. Can We Do Better? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	228
Appendix Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	243
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	247
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	307
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	349
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	353

Language: English
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 384
Illustrations
- Other: 13 line illustrations, 7 tables

eBook

Published: January 15, 2012
ISBN: 9780674062757