American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
The Long-Run Effects of R&D Place-Based Policies: Evidence from Russian Science Cities
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 14,
no. 3, August 2022
(pp. 322–51)
Abstract
We study the long-run effects of historical place-based R&D policies: the creation of Science Cities in Soviet Russia. We compare current demographic and economic characteristics of Science Cities with those of localities that were similar to them at the time of their establishment. We find that in present-day Russia, Science Cities are more innovative and productive, host more highly skilled workers, and pay them higher salaries. We interpret these findings as the result of the interaction between persistence and agglomeration forces; we rule out explanations related to the differential use of public resources.Citation
Schweiger, Helena, Alexander Stepanov, and Paolo Zacchia. 2022. "The Long-Run Effects of R&D Place-Based Policies: Evidence from Russian Science Cities." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 14 (3): 322–51. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200289Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- J31 Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
- J44 Professional Labor Markets; Occupational Licensing
- O33 Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
- O38 Technological Change: Government Policy
- P25 Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics
- R23 Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population; Neighborhood Characteristics
- R58 Regional Development Planning and Policy