The Elasticity of Science
利用美国国立卫生研究院的数据，估计科学家为获取资源而改变研究方向的程度，发现诱导科学家小幅调整方向需要大量资金，表明科学转换成本很高，但定向资助可能因科学家更高生产力而抵消额外成本。
This paper identifies the degree to which scientists are willing to change the direction of their work in exchange for resources. Data from the National Institutes of Health are used to estimate how scientists respond to targeted funding opportunities. Inducing a scientist to change their direction by a small amount—to work on marginally different topics—requires a substantial amount of funding in expectation. The switching costs of science are large. The productivity of grants is also estimated, and it appears the additional costs of targeted research may be more than offset by more productive scientists pursuing these grants.