Sixteen Irish science policy: a case study in evidence-based policy design for small open economies
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Eoin Cullina
Abstract
Science policy is receiving more attention as an instrument for economic development as economic growth becomes increasingly dependent on knowledge-intensive industries. The success of such industries depends on access to knowledge. As captured by modern theories of endogenous growth, new ideas (and associated new products and services) result from combining the existing stock of ideas with research and development (R&D) (Romer, 1990; Jones, 1995). Much of this R&D investment is done by private firms. However, such firms tend to underinvest in basic science and other forms of knowledge creation where much of the benefit spills over to other firms. There is therefore an important role for governments to fund and incentivise knowledge creation where that knowledge is underprovided by the market.
However, governments of small open economies (SOEs) such as Ireland face a particular challenge in devising a strategy for science policy. Smallness poses two obvious challenges: first, the benefits of science investments are likely to flow disproportionately to other countries; and second, small size may limit the benefits of agglomeration economies that are central to many knowledge-intensive industries and indeed in the production of science itself (Grossman and Helpman, 1991; Agrawal and Cockburn, 2003). In spending scarce resources on science, governments must establish a social contract with researchers and society at large to ensure the social benefits match the significant social (opportunity) costs.
Two broad rationales can be identified for why it may be worthwhile for an SOE to invest in science despite the obvious spillover and scale challenges. The first is the geographical stickiness of new knowledge production: there is a vast literature documenting the localisation of knowledge spillovers and the related tendency for knowledge to diffuse slowly across space over time (Trajtenberg et al, 1992; Agrawal et al, 2006).
Abstract
Science policy is receiving more attention as an instrument for economic development as economic growth becomes increasingly dependent on knowledge-intensive industries. The success of such industries depends on access to knowledge. As captured by modern theories of endogenous growth, new ideas (and associated new products and services) result from combining the existing stock of ideas with research and development (R&D) (Romer, 1990; Jones, 1995). Much of this R&D investment is done by private firms. However, such firms tend to underinvest in basic science and other forms of knowledge creation where much of the benefit spills over to other firms. There is therefore an important role for governments to fund and incentivise knowledge creation where that knowledge is underprovided by the market.
However, governments of small open economies (SOEs) such as Ireland face a particular challenge in devising a strategy for science policy. Smallness poses two obvious challenges: first, the benefits of science investments are likely to flow disproportionately to other countries; and second, small size may limit the benefits of agglomeration economies that are central to many knowledge-intensive industries and indeed in the production of science itself (Grossman and Helpman, 1991; Agrawal and Cockburn, 2003). In spending scarce resources on science, governments must establish a social contract with researchers and society at large to ensure the social benefits match the significant social (opportunity) costs.
Two broad rationales can be identified for why it may be worthwhile for an SOE to invest in science despite the obvious spillover and scale challenges. The first is the geographical stickiness of new knowledge production: there is a vast literature documenting the localisation of knowledge spillovers and the related tendency for knowledge to diffuse slowly across space over time (Trajtenberg et al, 1992; Agrawal et al, 2006).
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures, tables and boxes vii
- List of abbreviations viii
- Notes on contributors xi
- Editors’ introduction to the seriesr xv
- Acknowledgements xvii
- Foreword xix
- Preface xxiii
- Contextualising policy analysis in Ireland 1
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History, styles and methods of policy analysis in Ireland
- The evolution of economic policy analysis in Ireland 19
- The evolution of social policy analysis in Ireland: from a theocentric to an econocentric paradigm? 33
- The changing policy analysis capacity of the Irish state 47
- Introducing evidence into policy making in Ireland 63
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Policy analysis at various levels of government: from local to the EU
- Ireland’s ‘unique blend’: local government and policy analysis 79
- Committees and the legislature 93
- Policy analysis in the civil service 107
- Europeanised policy making in Ireland 123
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Think tanks, interest groups, political parties and gender-based policy analysis
- The social partners and the NESC: from tripartite dialogue via common knowledge events to network knowledge 141
- Thinks tanks and their role in policy making in Ireland 157
- Civil society organizations and policy analysis 171
- Political parties and the policy process 187
- Gender expertise and policy analysis 203
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The public, science and the media: the wider policy analysis environment in Ireland
- Democratic innovations and policy analysis: climate policy and Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly (2016–18) 219
- Irish science policy: a case study in evidence-based policy design for small open economies 235
- Media discourses on the economy in Ireland: framing the policy possibilities 249
- Index 263
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures, tables and boxes vii
- List of abbreviations viii
- Notes on contributors xi
- Editors’ introduction to the seriesr xv
- Acknowledgements xvii
- Foreword xix
- Preface xxiii
- Contextualising policy analysis in Ireland 1
-
History, styles and methods of policy analysis in Ireland
- The evolution of economic policy analysis in Ireland 19
- The evolution of social policy analysis in Ireland: from a theocentric to an econocentric paradigm? 33
- The changing policy analysis capacity of the Irish state 47
- Introducing evidence into policy making in Ireland 63
-
Policy analysis at various levels of government: from local to the EU
- Ireland’s ‘unique blend’: local government and policy analysis 79
- Committees and the legislature 93
- Policy analysis in the civil service 107
- Europeanised policy making in Ireland 123
-
Think tanks, interest groups, political parties and gender-based policy analysis
- The social partners and the NESC: from tripartite dialogue via common knowledge events to network knowledge 141
- Thinks tanks and their role in policy making in Ireland 157
- Civil society organizations and policy analysis 171
- Political parties and the policy process 187
- Gender expertise and policy analysis 203
-
The public, science and the media: the wider policy analysis environment in Ireland
- Democratic innovations and policy analysis: climate policy and Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly (2016–18) 219
- Irish science policy: a case study in evidence-based policy design for small open economies 235
- Media discourses on the economy in Ireland: framing the policy possibilities 249
- Index 263
