Research has consistently shown that economic affluence serves as a reliable predictor of a country's scientific wealth. However, these authors argue that this relationship is not universally straightforward. The primary goal of this study is to explore additional factors that either enhance or diminish the impact of economic wealth on scientific excellence. They find that HQSI, a commonly used metric for assessing scientific wealth, is positively and significantly correlated with economic indicators across countries. Yet, when societal factors are controlled for, these economic indicators become statistically insignificant. In interpreting these findings, the authors suggest that "small and well-governed countries with a long-standing democratic past" are more efficient in "translating economic wealth into high-quality science" (365).

Research has consistently shown that economic affluence serves as a reliable predictor of a country's scientific wealth. However, these authors argue that this relationship is not universally straightforward. The primary goal of this study is to explore additional factors that either enhance or diminish the impact of economic wealth on scientific excellence. They find that HQSI, a commonly used metric for assessing scientific wealth, is positively and significantly correlated with economic indicators across countries. Yet, when societal factors are controlled for, these economic indicators become statistically insignificant. In interpreting these findings, the authors suggest that "small and well-governed countries with a long-standing democratic past" are more efficient in "translating economic wealth into high-quality science" (365).