Academic Freedom Around the World Declining for First Time Since WWII

The research, conducted by a team of international researchers, reveals that after decades of steady improvement, global academic freedom has begun to decline over the past decade. This shift represents the first significant downturn since World War II and raises serious concerns about the future of innovation and scientific advancement.

Academic freedom, the right of scholars to pursue research, teach, and express ideas without undue interference, has long been considered a cornerstone of scientific progress. However, its importance to innovation has never been quantitatively measured on a global scale until now. The study’s findings not only confirm the crucial role of academic freedom in driving innovation but also sound a warning about the potential consequences of its current decline.

To investigate this relationship, the researchers analyzed data from 157 countries over a 115-year period, from 1900 to 2015. They used the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) to measure the level of academic freedom in each country and compared it to innovation output, measured by the number of patent applications and citations.

The results, published in PLOS One, were striking. Countries with higher levels of academic freedom consistently produced more patents and received more citations on those patents. Specifically, when a country’s academic freedom increased by one standard deviation, the number of patent applications rose by 41% two years later, and the number of citations increased by 29% five years later.

However, the most alarming finding was the recent downward trend in academic freedom. After steadily increasing from the 1940s to the 2010s, global academic freedom began to decline in the last decade. This reversal was observed not only globally but also among the 25 leading countries in science.

Based on the study’s findings, the researchers project that the recent decrease in academic freedom could lead to a substantial reduction in innovation output in the coming years. This could manifest as fewer new patents and a decrease in impactful research, potentially slowing technological progress and economic growth.

The study’s authors emphasize that this trend should be a wake-up call for policymakers and academic institutions worldwide. They argue that protecting and promoting academic freedom is not just a matter of principle, but a practical necessity for fostering innovation and addressing global challenges.

“We predict a global decline of 4–6% in innovative capability. In the leading countries, the figure is as high as 5–8%,” says study author Paul Momtaz, Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance at the Technical University of Munich, in a statement. “The results are an alarming sign for many countries. Those who restrict academic freedom also limit the ability to develop new technologies and processes and therefore hinder progress and prosperity. We see this trend not only in dictatorships, but also increasingly in democratic states where populist parties have gained influence.”

The research also sheds light on the complex relationship between academic freedom and other societal factors. While academic freedom is crucial for innovation, it exists in tension with other forces, such as political pressures, funding constraints, and societal expectations. The study suggests that finding the right balance is essential for maximizing innovative potential while addressing ethical concerns and societal needs.

In countries like China, for example, the study found that academic freedom has declined significantly in recent years, potentially jeopardizing the country’s ambitions to become a global leader in innovation. Conversely, countries that have maintained high levels of academic freedom, such as the United States and Germany, continue to be at the forefront of global innovation.

The researchers argue that reversing the decline in academic freedom should be a priority for governments and institutions worldwide. They suggest that policies protecting academic freedom, fostering open discourse, and supporting independent research could help stimulate innovation and drive economic growth. The future of global progress may well hinge on our ability to nurture free thought and inquiry in academia.

Paper Summary

Methodology

The researchers used a method called instrumental variable analysis to study the relationship between academic freedom and innovation. This approach helps determine if one thing (academic freedom) causes changes in another (innovation). They looked at data from 157 countries over 115 years, using the Academic Freedom Index to measure academic freedom.

For innovation, they counted patent applications and how often these patents were cited. They also considered other factors that might affect innovation, like a country’s wealth and population size, to ensure they were measuring the specific effect of academic freedom.

Key Results

The study found a strong positive relationship between academic freedom and innovation. When academic freedom increased, both the number of patents and the number of times these patents were cited also increased. This effect was seen even when accounting for other factors that might influence innovation. The results were consistent across different ways of measuring academic freedom and innovation, suggesting that the findings are robust and reliable.

Study Limitations

While the study provides valuable insights, it has some limitations. The researchers used patents as a measure of innovation, which may not capture all types of innovation, especially in fields where patents are less common. Additionally, the study relies on historical data and expert opinions to measure academic freedom, which may not always accurately reflect the reality on the ground. The causal relationship between academic freedom and innovation, while supported by the data, could benefit from further investigation using different methods.

Discussion & Takeaways

The study’s findings have significant implications for policy and practice. They suggest that protecting and promoting academic freedom could be a valuable strategy for countries looking to boost their innovative output. However, the recent global decline in academic freedom is concerning and could potentially lead to reduced innovation in the future.

The research also opens up new avenues for study, such as investigating the specific mechanisms through which academic freedom influences innovation and exploring how different aspects of academic freedom (e.g., freedom to research vs. freedom to teach) might impact innovation differently.

Funding & Disclosures

Scientists from the Technical University of Munich, Indiana University, the University of Luxembourg, the Polytechnic University of Milan, and the University of Bergamo were involved in the study. The authors received no specific funding for this work and declared no competing interests. The study was based on publicly available data and conducted independently by the researchers.

Source: Study Finds

StudyFinds sets out to find new research that speaks to mass audiences — without all the scientific jargon. The stories we publish are digestible, summarized versions of research that are intended to inform the reader as well as stir civil, educated debate. StudyFinds Staff articles are AI assisted, but always thoroughly reviewed and edited by a Study Finds staff member. Read our AI Policy for more information.

Image: The research, conducted by a team of international researchers, reveals that after decades of steady improvement, global academic freedom has begun to decline over the past decade. (Photo by Edward Jenner from Pexels)

Become a Patron!
Or support us at SubscribeStar
Donate cryptocurrency HERE

Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Follow us on Telegram, HIVE, Minds, MeWe, Twitter – X  and Gab.

Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.