How Economics Shapes Science by Paula Stephan

摘要

How Economics Shapes Science is the new book from Paula Stephan, an eminent economist at Georgia State University, who specializes in the study of the scientific workforce and their careers. My alacrity in seizing the opportunity to write this review was richly rewarded by a wonderful book that is nuanced, comprehensive, well written, data driven, richly footnoted, and balanced in being current, and while also drawing on the scholarship of the past few decades. Though the book is single authored, I was struck by the extensive and generous acknowledgments. Clearly, it takes a community to put together a book this comprehensive, providing as it does an overview of the conduct, funding and economic links of research in US universities and also touching on foreign systems. Every chapter includes a consideration of policy issues, making it eminently suitable for the Science and Public Policy audience.