Research grants and independent scientific contributions: Evidence from authorship position
利用2015-2019年捷克医学研究资助数据，通过断点回归发现竞争性资助显著增加了受资助者的独立研究贡献，尤其是第一作者和最后作者论文，对女性和资历较浅的研究者效果更强。
We examine whether competitive research grants generate independent research by the funded investigator. We distinguish first- and last-author publications—indicating leading contribution in biomedical research—from total output. Using data on Czech medical research grants awarded between 2015 and 2019, we apply a regression discontinuity design around the funding cutoff. Grants increase total publications by 3.1 papers (22%). First- and last-author publications increase by 59% and 41% respectively—substantially exceeding the total effect. These gains extend to high-tier journals and to citations. Effects are strongest for female and less senior investigators, consistent with grants mattering most when funding is constrained.