Scientific Culture and Economic Growth in the Long Run: A Capital Perspective in the Philippine Context

Authors

• Wilson Cordova, De La Salle University
• Cristina Teresa N. Lim, De La Salle University
• Cholo E. Javier, Ateneo de Manila UniversityFollow
• Jan Nathalia A. Atendido, De La Salle University
• Shieradel V. Jimenez, De La Salle University
• Emmanuel Fernando C. Jimenez, De La Salle University
• Gil Antonio R. Dela Cruz, De La Salle University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Scientific culture, which includes researchers’ output, R&D capacity and innovation activity, is critical in determining long-run economic performance as it influences capital formation. This study combines data on R&D expenditure, scientific and technical journal publications, researcher density, and macroeconomic indicators, including gross capital formation between the year 1977 and 2025 in the context of the Philippines. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and an ARDL framework are used in the analysis to study both the short- and the long-run dynamics. The results show that although there is an increasing trend in scientific production and capital investment, the way forward is slow and is accompanied by some nagging problems such as low intensity in R&D and reliance on imported intellectual property. Bounds testing does not show a stable long-run relationship, though short-run coefficients indicate transitional effects and the cost of adjustments to convert research outputs into investment growth. Regional and global literature comparative insights support that the economic effect of scientific capacity depends on the quality of institutions, the absorptive capability, and complementary investments in human resources and financial depth. The policy recommendations would involve increasing R&D investment, enhancing commercialization channels, enhancing university-industry collaborations and developing domestic IP portfolios. Future research will be required to build strong long-run estimates and sector-specific transmission channels, and this will require extending and harmonizing datasets.

Recommended Citation

Cordova, W., Lim, C. T. N., Javier, C. E., Atendido, J. N. A., Jimenez, S. V., Jimenez, E. F. C., & Dela Cruz, G. A. R. (2025). Scientific culture and economic growth in the long-run: A capital perspective in the Philippine context. Scientific Culture, 11(4), 1241–1251. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1104259