Does the Success of a Grant Application Depend on Gender, Nationality, or Ethnicity? An Observational Study

12 Pages Posted: 16 Nov 2018

See all articles by Axel Gandy

Axel Gandy

Imperial College London - Department of Mathematics

Ragnhild Noven

Imperial College London - Department of Mathematics

Georg Hahn

Lancaster University

Date Written: October 25, 2018

Abstract

An important driver of research and of academic careers is grant funding. This article aims to analyse the impact of various factors (specifically gender, nationality and ethnicity) on the success of grant applications. We use data from applications of applicants based at a technical university in the U.K. The study is based on 5 years of observational data -- and thus results should not be considered as evidence of discrimination, as there may very well be plausible explanations which cannot be excluded with the available data. We find no evidence for an unequal funding allocation across gender for research council or charity funding overall. However, we do find statistically significant differences in application success between other groups. For instance, gender seems to have an effect on success rates among more junior academic ranks (specifically lecturer and senior lecturers), and success rates also differ between BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) and white ethnicities. These inequalities are still persistent after applying data matching to correct for potential biases.

Keywords: Academic profession, gender discrimination, grant applications, research funding

JEL Classification: J44, J70, D63

Suggested Citation

Gandy, Axel and Noven, Ragnhild and Hahn, Georg, Does the Success of a Grant Application Depend on Gender, Nationality, or Ethnicity? An Observational Study (October 25, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3272738 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3272738

Axel Gandy (Contact Author)

Imperial College London - Department of Mathematics ( email )

South Kensington Campus
Imperial College
LONDON, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Ragnhild Noven

Imperial College London - Department of Mathematics ( email )

South Kensington Campus
Imperial College
LONDON, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Georg Hahn

Lancaster University ( email )

Lancaster LA1 4YX
United Kingdom

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