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

Preview

Text (Working paper ) WRAP_78.2012_waldinger.pdf - Published Version Download (545Kb) | Preview

Request Changes to record.

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Status:	Not Peer Reviewed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

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads