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Scientific isolation? The consequences of Trump's China initiative on Chinese research

Author

Listed:
  • Aghion, Philippe
  • Antonin, Céline
  • Paluskiewicz, Luc
  • Strömberg, David
  • Sun, Xueping
  • Wargon, Raphaël
  • Westin, Karolina

Abstract

The 2018 China Initiative by the Trump administration complicated procedures and reduced funding for U.S.-China research collaborations. Using Scopus data, we analyze its impact on Chinese research. We find that it significantly lowered the quality of both publications and co-authors of Chinese researchers with prior U.S. collaborations compared to those with prior European collaborations, and reduced yearly citations for affected researchers by 6%. The effect was stronger for high-productivity Chinese researchers in U.S.-dominated fields. While China is at the forefront of the scientific frontier, it still depends more on the U.S. than the reverse.

Suggested Citation

  • Aghion, Philippe & Antonin, Céline & Paluskiewicz, Luc & Strömberg, David & Sun, Xueping & Wargon, Raphaël & Westin, Karolina, 2026. "Scientific isolation? The consequences of Trump's China initiative on Chinese research," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 140961, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:140961
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    File URL: https://researchonline.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/140961/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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