From: rsherme@diamond.nswc.navy.mil (Russel Shermer (R43))
Newsgroups: sci.research
Subject: fyi #120: Basic Physics Funding in Inflation-Adjusted Dollars
Date: 4 Sep 92 16:57:35 GMT
Organization: NAVSWC DD White Oak Det.

Posted for:
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Audrey T. Leath
Phone: (202) 332-9662
Email: fyi@aip.org



Basic Physics Funding in Inflation-Adjusted Dollars

FYI No. 120, September 4, 1992

Last week we published tables, obtained from the National Science
Foundation, showing federal funding for physics, astronomy, and
geosciences for the years 1969-1991 (see FYIs #116, #117.)  A
number of readers expressed concern that the tables, which were not
adjusted for inflation, presented a misleading and overly
optimistic picture of physics funding.

In response to this concern, and because we agree that
inflation-adjusted numbers are more informative, we have used
deflators supplied by NSF and have calculated the amounts in
constant (1987) dollars.  The federal funding for each year was
divided by that year's deflator to obtain the new number.  We have
also updated the years 1990-1992 to represent NSF's most current
figures.  The amounts for 1991 and 1992 are still only estimates.

This FYI shows federal support for basic research.  FYI #121 will
provide the comparable amounts for applied research.  As in FYIs
#116 and #117, the amounts shown include federal funding to all
agencies.

               BASIC RESEARCH FUNDING, 1969-1992
                   (in thousands of dollars)

          Physics        Astronomy      Geosciences
1969      1,070,055      531,272        217,606
1970        980,405      378,163        226,133
1971        965,143      341,365        211,293
1972        946,236      337,078        175,229
1973        872,136      302,031        198,667
1974        832,679      308,160        186,986
1975        796,496      342,640        186,198
1976        758,376      312,300        186,851
1977        844,012       49,081        232,431
1978        870,905      352,244        243,603
1979        827,346      433,492        243,440
1980        946,663      395,891        281,007
1981        945,752      352,658        249,749
1982        946,429      324,493        212,432
1983        982,652      407,339        204,886
1984      1,014,232      417,780        217,953
1985      1,017,689      424,805        265,042
1986      1,033,117      466,485        273,351
1987      1,072,285      504,500        266,173
1988      1,163,277      442,463        257,965
1989      1,289,212      484,748        309,458
1990      1,308,549      514,724        390,277
1991      1,417,585      543,942        426,173
1992      1,401,832      593,846        428,145


It is worth pointing out that even the inflation-adjusted figures
must be seen in context.  For example, between the years 1973 and
1989, the number of PhD physicists working in the field grew from
13,512 to 17,912, according to a survey performed by AIP for the
National Research Council.  This represents a 32.6% increase.  In
addition, the costs and complexity of research instrumentation have
increased over the years.


###############
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Audrey T. Leath
(202) 332-9662
##END##########