Would Increased National Science Foundation Research Support to Economists at Historically Black Colleges and Universities Increase Their Research Productivity?

Economics faculty research productivity is an important social good. The basic and applied research efforts of economics faculty add to the stock of knowledge, and either directly or indirectly engenders progress. This chapter discusses the data and conceptual framework that motivates the empirical specification of the individual economist research productivity equation. The consequences of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) having a negative effect on the research productivity of economists are potentially important. The chapter explores the possibly causal link between National Science Foundation (NSF) funding for research in economics, and the research productivity of minority and non-minority economists. It considers the implications it has for the research productivity of black economists at HBCUs. In addition to increasing submissions from black economists at HBCUs, NSF science policy goals should be mindful of any biases that may constrain awards to black economists at HBCUs.