Selected Publications
When Government Shuts Down Science: Evidence from U.S. Antarctic Research,
Kris Gulati and Christian Helmers
Abstract:
We study the 2013 U.S. federal government shutdown and its impact on federally funded research in Antarctica. Although the shutdown lasted only 16 days, it coincided with the start of the Antarctic summer field season, a narrow window for data collection that relies on geographically unique, time-sensitive, and difficult-to-substitute research inputs. Using scientist-level data with a difference-in-differences design and exploiting the timing of the shutdown, we document an 11% decline in the number of byline-weighted publications among affected researchers, as well as altered collaboration patterns, which we corroborate with qualitative survey evidence. These findings show that even brief disruptions can have lasting effects on science when they block access to specialized, time-sensitive, and hard-to-replace research inputs.