Study title

Keywords; Search terms: historical time series; historical statistics; histat / HISTAT . Abstract: Data were collected on governmental financing of science in Germany. To enable interpreting governmental education expenditures groups were formed among others regarding department or aim of financing. Time series of science statistics for the period of 1850 to 1975 has been published. The main question of the study was: How was it possible, that Germany has become a ´worldcentre of science´ during the 19th century? This Data Manual on Scientific Development (=„Datenhandbuch zur Wissenschaftsentwicklung“) is related to the study “Entwicklung der Wissenschaftspolitik in Deutschland” (=Development of science policy in Germany) ( see Pfetsch, F.R., 1974: “Zur Entwicklung der Wissenschaftspolitik in Deutschland“ (= On the development of science policy in Germany)1750 to 1914. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, Study-No.: ZA8472). In this study, scientific statistical time series for the years 1850 to 1914 were published. Central issues for the study have been: How was it possible that Germany in the 19th century could develop into a world center of science and therefore became a model for many countries? How had Germany arranged it as an underdeveloped country at that time, to supersede the technological dominance of the most advanced industrial nation – Great Britain – and then later influenced on its part on the development of this country? State science policy is reflected in the spending on science and technology. The structure of official spending shows the preferential order of political decisions. For the period from 1850 to 1914 the government budgets of the largest federal states and for the German Empire has been checked through official expenditure on science. The term ‘expenditure on science’ means official expenditures on universities and non-university research institutes, as well as on other scientific undertakings, for example scientific...