Much of the research money governments disburse is allocated on academic merit, determined by peer review, not by bureaucratic fiat.

ECONOMIST: The knowledge factory

The role of government research agencies across the world is to provide their governments with evidence-based information to inform policy on issues of public interest such as food safety, climate change and healthcare.

BBC: Risks of placing scientists 'on message'

There is plenty of venture capital for ideas that promise returns in the short or medium term, but longer-term research and development depends heavily on governments.

ECONOMIST: Crazy-talking boffins

The focus of governments and NGOs is very much on basic education yet if more research was done in Africa everyone would benefit.

BBC: What if Africa were to become the hub for global science?

The authors of the new research argue that governments might have been better off borrowing more money to spend on trying to encourage economic growth and reduce the severity of the recessions their countries were facing.

BBC: Doubt cast on research supporting austerity