Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of tables
- List of figures
- Preface
- List of contributors
- 1 An introduction to the spread of economic ideas
- Part I From economist to economist
- Part II From economists to the lay public
- Part III From economist to policymaker
- Part IV Funding the spread of economic ideas
- 14 Doing good and spreading the gospel (economic)
- 15 Think tanks and the politics of ideas
- 16 The role of the NSF in the spread of economic ideas
- 17 Money and the spread of ideas
- 18 Changing incentives to make economics more relevant
- Bibliography
- Index
16 - The role of the NSF in the spread of economic ideas
from Part IV - Funding the spread of economic ideas
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 July 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of tables
- List of figures
- Preface
- List of contributors
- 1 An introduction to the spread of economic ideas
- Part I From economist to economist
- Part II From economists to the lay public
- Part III From economist to policymaker
- Part IV Funding the spread of economic ideas
- 14 Doing good and spreading the gospel (economic)
- 15 Think tanks and the politics of ideas
- 16 The role of the NSF in the spread of economic ideas
- 17 Money and the spread of ideas
- 18 Changing incentives to make economics more relevant
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The National Science Foundation is a major arena in which economic ideas compete for funds. In fiscal year 1986 the Economics Program received 404 new proposals and funded 147. The total expenditure of the Economics Program was $11,292,000.
Proposals are processed as follows: Researchers prepare and submit proposals to the National Science Foundation. My two colleagues and I select six or more specialist reviews for each proposal. Twice a year pending proposals, with any written reviews received, are evaluated by a panel of fourteen distinguished economists. The panel makes recommendations. The staff uses the information in the written reviews and from the panel discussion and recommendations to make its own decisions, subject to approval of the Division Director and the Grants and Contracts Office. Funds are then given to the winning projects.
How does this way of proposal processing affect the generation and spread of economic ideas? One simple view of the connection between NSF and economic ideas has researchers thinking up new ideas and then submitting proposals to NSF. Those researchers whose projects are approved receive NSF funds and produce the ideas described in their proposals. Those who don't, choose other research topics or find other sources of support for their research.
Reality is more complicated than this. Let's begin with the preparation of proposals. Proposals usually describe research that is already underway because most work is incremental. Most successful economists develop broad lines of inquiry over a number of years and do not repeatedly shift from one new idea to another unrelated idea. Also, reviewers insist on detail.
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- Information
- The Spread of Economic Ideas , pp. 195 - 224Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989
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