Bombs, brains, and science: the role of human and physical capital for the creation of scientific knowledge

Waldinger, Fabian (2016) Bombs, brains, and science: the role of human and physical capital for the creation of scientific knowledge. Review of Economics and Statistics, 98 (5). 811 - 831. ISSN 0034-6535

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Abstract

I examine the role of human and physical capital for the creation of scientific knowledge. I address the endogeneity of human and physical capital with two exogenous shocks: the dismissal of scientists in Nazi Germany and World War II bombings. A 10% shock to human capital reduced output by 0.2 SD in the short run, and the reduction persisted in the long run. A 10% shock to physical capital reduced output by 0.05 SD in the short run, and the reduction did not persist. The dismissal of star scientists caused much larger reductions in output because they are key for attracting other successful scientists.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.mitpressjournals.org/toc/rest/0/ja
Additional Information:	© 2016 The President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Divisions:	Centre for Economic Performance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HA Statistics
Date Deposited:	08 Dec 2016 11:54
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 01:16
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/68561

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