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Publications
  • October 2020
  • Article
  • American Economic Journal: Applied Economics

The Elasticity of Science

By: Kyle Myers
  • Format:Print
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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.
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About The Author

Kyle R. Myers

Technology and Operations Management
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More from the Author

    • September 2020
    • Nature Human Behaviour

    Unequal Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Scientists

    By: Kyle Myers, Wei Yang Tham, Yian Yin, Nina Cohodes, Marie Thursby, Jerry Thursby, Peter Schiffer, Joseph Walsh, Karim R. Lakhani and Dashun Wang
    • 2020
    • Faculty Research

    Research Subsidy Spillovers, Two Ways

    By: Kyle Myers and Lauren Lanahan
    • 2020
    • Faculty Research

    When Firms Sell To and Through Experts: An Empirical Case Study of Physician Prescribing

    By: Kyle Myers, Matt Grennan, Ashley Swanson and Aaron K. Chatterji
More from the Author
  • Unequal Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Scientists By: Kyle Myers, Wei Yang Tham, Yian Yin, Nina Cohodes, Marie Thursby, Jerry Thursby, Peter Schiffer, Joseph Walsh, Karim R. Lakhani and Dashun Wang
  • Research Subsidy Spillovers, Two Ways By: Kyle Myers and Lauren Lanahan
  • When Firms Sell To and Through Experts: An Empirical Case Study of Physician Prescribing By: Kyle Myers, Matt Grennan, Ashley Swanson and Aaron K. Chatterji
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