Academic science as a system of markets

Ziman, John

Publication year:

1994

Publication place:

Donostia-San Sebastián

ISBN:

84-87471-63-3

Summary

It is instructive to think of UK academic science as in interlocking system of "markets", where "vendors" offer "commodities" to "customers" in returm for "currencies". In the institutional market, higher education institutional market, higher education institutions compete commercially as research contractors. Money is also the effective currency in the markets in projects, academic jobs and intellectual property rights. But these are linked with the metaphorical reputational and research claims markets where academics compete fiercely for intangible "recognition". Some typical market imperfections, such as research customer monopsonym arbitrary variations of project pricing, inadequate information on quality, and rigidities of staffing, could be reduced by systematic reform. But some current structural problems are deep-seated. For example, damaging conflict between institutional and individual interest is being generated by the introduction of commercial "market forces" into the traditional academic marketplace where competition was always by quality, not by price, and where individuals could enter and leave at minimal personal cost.