Digitalisation, Use of Scientific Publications, and Research Output: Cross-Country Evidence

Access to scientific publications is essential for scientific progress, yet access remains uneven across countries due to differences in institutional subscriptions and digital infrastructure. This paper examines how digitalisation is associated with the use of accessible scientific publications, as proxied by Sci-Hub downloads, and scientific productivity across countries. Using Sci-Hub download data, we capture cross-country patterns in the use of accessible scientific knowledge. The results suggest that higher levels of digitalisation are associated with greater use of accessible scientific publications and higher levels of scientific output. Furthermore, the association between individual-level digitalisation and publication use is stronger in low- and lower-middle-income countries than in upper-middle- and high-income countries, whereas the corresponding income-group difference for business-level digitalisation is not statistically significant. These findings highlight the potential role of digitalisation in shaping global patterns of access to scientific knowledge and scientific production.