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Margaret E Blume-Kohout, The University and the Economy by Aldo Geuna and Federica Rossi, Science and Public Policy, Volume 44, Issue 1, February 2017, Pages 147–148, https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scw040
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Higher education institutions (and the public agencies that fund them) are under increasing pressure to demonstrate their broader societal benefits. However, differences across institutions in their strategic mission and focus, the student populations they serve, and in institutional norms suggest a nuanced approach is needed in evaluating university performance and prescribing policy interventions. Toward this end, Geuna and Rossi’s The University and the Economy provides a concise, critical survey of how universities’ teaching, research, and technology transfer activities may contribute to economic growth, while cautioning decision-makers not to rely overmuch on popular statistical indicators of that performance.
Although the authors suggest that this book aims to inform national and local policy-makers, university administrators, and the lay public, I found the language and presentation of technical theory and empirical models better suited to academic or public policy research audiences. Due to its detailed focus on European research universities, for US-based researchers in particular this book may contribute toward a broader perspective on differences between the USA and European countries in how academic research is funded. Some chapters may also be useful as supplementary reading for a range of undergraduate or professional courses, such as those focusing on economics of science or science policy, higher education policy or administration, economics of labor and human capital, public finance, business strategy and innovation, or macroeconomics.