Coffee Cups, Brain Drain to Nobel Medals: Analyzing Factors Influencing Nobel Laureates per Million Using OLS Multiple Regression

Atharva Joshi, Ayan Mandal, Debanjali Dutta, Rohit Shelar, Subha Suresh Kumar

Abstract: This study investigates the factors influencing the number of Nobel Laureates per million population across various countries. Using data from 62 countries, we examine the impact of key variables including R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP, educational outcomes (PISA scores), coffee consumption per capita, the percentage of women in parliament, and brain drain. Employing Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, our analysis reveals that both R&D expenditure and coffee consumption are statistically significant predictors of Nobel laureates per million. Notably, higher R&D spending correlates with more Nobel laureates, though this effect is attenuated by high levels of brain drain, which reduces the effectiveness of R&D investments. Coffee consumption, while also significant, may reflect broader socio - cultural factors related to intellectual engagement and productivity. The study highlights the need for comprehensive policies that not only promote research and development but also address talent retention to maximize scientific achievements. Future research should explore these dynamics further, considering more complex interactions and broader datasets to enhance our understanding of the factors contributing to Nobel laureateship.

Keywords: Nobel laureates/prize, coffee consumption per capita, brain drain, regression