Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • October 2020
  • Article
  • American Economic Journal: Applied Economics

The Elasticity of Science

By: Kyle Myers
  • Format:Print
ShareBar

Abstract

This paper identifies the degree to which scientists are willing to change the direction of their work in exchange for resources. Data from the National Institutes of Health are used to estimate how scientists respond to targeted funding opportunities. Inducing a scientist to change their direction by a small amount—to work on marginally different topics—requires a substantial amount of funding in expectation. The switching costs of science are large. The productivity of grants is also estimated, and it appears the additional costs of targeted research may be more than offset by more productive scientists pursuing these grants.

Keywords

Scientists; Funding; Research; Change

Citation

Myers, Kyle. "The Elasticity of Science." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 12, no. 4 (October 2020): 103–134.
  • Find it at Harvard
  • Register to Read

About The Author

Kyle R. Myers

Technology and Operations Management
→More Publications

More from the Author

    • July 2022
    • American Economic Review

    Estimating Spillovers from Publicly Funded R&D: Evidence from the US Department of Energy

    By: Kyle Myers and Lauren Lanahan
    • March 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Digital Manufacturing at Amgen

    By: Shane Greenstein, Kyle R. Myers and Sarah Mehta
    • November 2021
    • Faculty Research

    Kermit PPI

    By: Kyle Myers, Matt Grennan and Sarah Mehta
More from the Author
  • Estimating Spillovers from Publicly Funded R&D: Evidence from the US Department of Energy By: Kyle Myers and Lauren Lanahan
  • Digital Manufacturing at Amgen By: Shane Greenstein, Kyle R. Myers and Sarah Mehta
  • Kermit PPI By: Kyle Myers, Matt Grennan and Sarah Mehta
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College