An analysis of the funding to, and by, the Medical Research Council of New Zealand during the period 1973-84.
Correcting for inflation, the government grant to the MRC from 1973-84 was maintained at 90% of that for 1973. Funding of units was constant at 12% of total disbursements. That for project grants decreased from 89% in 1973 to a low of 48% in 1981. Programme grants increased from 21% in 1974 to a peak of 40% in 1981. After 1981 there was a slight shift favouring project grants. Purchasing power of project grants fell to a low, in 1980, of 41.5% of that in 1974 but, from 1981-84 remained at 45%. The purchasing power of programme grants was protected and held at 90% of that in 1974. From 1982-84 expenditure on project grants running for 3 years decreased from 50-60%, to only 15% and, with the declining fraction of the budget allotted to project grants, and in their purchasing power, this may account for the perception of a shortage of funds for medical research. Sustained support for research in the main centres has changed little and reflects the number of full-time academic staff at each school.
Lee
D
D
D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends