TRAMES, 2003, 7(57/52), 1, 40–52
The Quality of Science in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania after the First
Decade of Independence
Jüri Allik
University of Tartu
Abstract. The main goal of this essay is to provide an
analysis of bibliometric indicators of the quality of science in Estonia,
Latvia, and Lithuania during the last ten years. In 2001, Estonia with 404
scientific publications per million of population was clearly ahead of Latvia
(166), and Lithuania (136). Since 1992, Estonian and Lithuanian scientists more
than doubled the number of articles they published in journals indexed by the ISI Web of Knowledge. The number
of articles from Latvia has increased only 10%, which is even less than the
general increase of published articles in the world. Comparing expenditures on
research and development, R&D, with the number of scientific publications
of each country, the cost of one published article was lowest in Estonia and
only a little higher in Latvia and Lithuania. The unrealistically low cost of
scientific articles suggests that a considerable amount of “hidden money” is
involved, not reflected in the official expenditures. According to the ISI Essential Science Indicators
database, Estonian scientists produced the largest number of high-impact papers
(4,429) and also received the largest number of articles citing them (22,274);
the Latvian contribution was the most modest, 2,610 articles and 9,192
citations. Estonia was able to produce high-impact research in 20 research
areas, Lithuania in 13, and Latvia in 11 areas. It is concluded that the
inadequate amount of money and the ignorance of the political elite concerning
the role of science in a modern society are the most pressing problems for the
further development of science in all three Baltic states, and particularly in
Latvia.
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