The Rise of China and the Global Production of Scientific Knowledge

Hyejin Ku and Tianrui Mu ()
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Tianrui Mu: University College London

No 2513, RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series from Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM)

Abstract: This paper examines how China’s growing research capabilities impact global research universities across scientific fields. Using bibliometric data from 1980 to 2020, we assess the effects of the “China shock†on high-impact publications, novel concepts, and citation patterns. Our analysis reveals a positive net effect in Chemistry and Engineering & Materials Science (EMS), but a negative effect in Clinical & Life Sciences (CLS). In other fields, the effects are mostly positive but imprecise. We highlight the coexistence of competition and spillover effects, with their relative strength shaped by field characteristics, such as expansion potential and the quality of China’s research.

Keywords: China shock in science; knowledge production; ideas; competition; spillovers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 J24 O31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-lma and nep-sog
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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