Local Researchers, Local Problems
30 Pages Posted: 25 Jun 2023
Date Written: June 14, 2023
Abstract
What role does a scientist's location play in their research agenda? Several studies have documented that a location can affect scientific productivity, but it can also expose scientists to new ideas which can lead to a shift in their research agenda. In this paper I investigate if a scientist's location shapes their research agenda by examining the extent to which migrant biomedical scientists shift their research towards diseases prevalent in their host country following a move. Using publication data on scientists moving in and out of African countries, I find that migrant scientists do tend to research diseases prevalent in their host countries after a move, particularly when moving into Africa from outside the continent. These findings suggest that greater equality in terms of the distribution of scientists around the world can influence the direction of scientific
research.
JEL Classification: O01
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