Assessing the influence of GDP, globalization, civil liberties, and foreign direct investment on researchers in R&D per country: Dynamic Panel Cointegration Analysis for Latin American countries

Abstract

Researchers in Latin America play a critical role in driving innovation, advancing knowledge, and addressing pressing social challenges. Despite their crucial contributions, they often face challenges such as limited funding, infrastructure limitations and the need for greater international collaboration. This is reflected in the region's scientific production, which barely reaches 3% of global production. This article conducts an exhaustive analysis of the factors that shape the presence of researchers involved in Research and Development (R&D) activities in Latin American countries. The study employs the second-generation of Dynamic Panel Cointegration Analysis to evaluate the dynamics of the relationships between R&D researchers per country and key determinants such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), globalization, civil liberties and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The study covers data from 9 Latin American countries between 1996 and 2022. The findings reveal a nuanced interplay of these factors. The GDP demonstrates a positive and significant impact on the presence of R&D researchers, highlighting the role of economic growth in promoting research capabilities. Globalization emerges as a fundamental driver, showing a strong positive association with the presence of R&D researchers in a territory, indicating the growing importance of international collaboration in research initiatives. This research not only deepens the understanding of the factors that influence R&D activities in Latin American countries, but also provides valuable information for policymakers to foster innovation and economic development. in the region.