Waldinger, Fabian (2012) Bombs, brains, and science : the role of human and physical capital for the creation of scientific knowledge. Working Paper. Coventry, UK: Department of Economics, University of Warwick. CAGE Online Working Paper Series, Volume 2012 (Number 78).

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the effects of human capital (HC) and physical capital (PC) for
the productivity of science departments. To address the endogeneity of input choices I
use two extensive but temporary shocks to the HC and PC of science departments. As
HC shock I use the dismissal of mostly Jewish scientists in Nazi Germany. As PC shock I
use the destruction of facilities by Allied bombings during WWII. In the short run, a 10
percent to HC lowered departmental productivity by about 0.21sd. A 10 percent shock
to PC lowered departmental productivity by about 0.05sd in the short run. While the
HC shock persisted until the end of my sample period (1980), departments experiencing
a PC shock recovered very quickly (by 1961). Additional results show that the dismissal
'star scientists' was particularly detrimental, and that a fall in the quality of hires was an
important mechanism for the persistence of the HC shock.

Item Type:	Working or Discussion Paper (Working Paper)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Human capital -- Germany, Scientists -- Germany, Economics -- Mathematical models, Research -- Evaluation, Research -- History
Series Name:	CAGE Online Working Paper Series
Publisher:	Department of Economics, University of Warwick
Place of Publication:	Coventry, UK
Official Date:	March 2012
Dates:	Date Event March 2012 Published
Volume:	Volume 2012
Number:	Number 78
Number of Pages:	55
Institution:	University of Warwick
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Version or Related Resource:	Waldinger, Fabian (2011). Bombs, brains, and science : the role of human and physical capital for the creation of scientific knowledge. Invited Speaker : Seminars on Labor Research. Berlin, Germany, 14 Dec 2011. ttp://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/45053
Related URLs:	Related item in WRAP

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