The political economy of public research, or why some governments commit to research more than others

Despite a generalised consensus about its economic benefits public research exhibits different patterns across countries. Why do some governments invest in public research more than others? By relying on political economy literature we investigate investment in public research as a choice shaped by the political institutions of countries. Studying a sample of 41 countries we find a robust relationship between public-funded research and parliamentary forms of government, proportional electoral rules, bicameral legislatures, and the presence of encompassing civic society organizations. The political economy perspective helps explaining the different patterns of public research observed in advanced countries and increases the understanding about how research is affected by the civil society.