The Returns to Publicly Funded R&D: A Study of U.S. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers

The Returns to Publicly Funded R&D focuses on the returns to U.S. public-sector investments in R&D and the accompanying new empirical analysis relates specifically to the returns to public-sector R&D expenditures in U.S. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). The analysis of investments in R&D in FFRDCs is econometrics-based, but there is also a program evaluation literature that offers insight into the rates of returns to public-sector R&D. U.S. legislative actions to increase publicly funded R&D in support of private-sector R&D are discussed, and a brief history of FFRDCs in the United States is presented. An empirical analysis of U.S. public-sector R&D expenditures in FFRDCs is presented and discussed, and concluding observations about the themes discussed throughout this monograph are offered.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 100 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: now publishers Inc

The Returns to Publicly Funded R&D delves into the returns generated by U.S. public-sector investments in research and development (R&D), offering a comprehensive new empirical analysis specifically focused on the returns to public-sector R&D expenditures in Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).

One primary motivation for examining the rates of return to public-sector R&D arises from the scarcity of existing literature on this topic. However, there are two other crucial motivations for studying these rates: a public accountability motivation and a mandated public policy motivation. While the analysis presented herein employs econometric techniques, it is important to note that a frequently overlooked program evaluation literature also provides valuable insights into the rates of returns to public-sector R&D. Examples of this program evaluation literature are provided in Section 3 for completeness and to illustrate a broader rate of return concept than that presented in the econometrics-based literature.

In Section 4, U.S. legislative actions to increase publicly funded R&D in support of private-sector R&D are discussed, providing context for the discussion. A brief history of FFRDCs in the United States is presented in Section 5 to shed light on their significance as an overlooked element of the public-sector ecosystem that supports public-sector research.

Section 6 presents and discusses an empirical analysis of U.S. public-sector R&D expenditures in FFRDCs, along with the associated scientific publications. This analysis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the returns generated by these investments.

Concluding observations about the themes discussed throughout this monograph are offered in Section 7, summarizing the key findings and implications of the research.

Weight: 154g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781680839449