Four aspects have been highlighted by the World Bank to improve the efficiency of funding, which include 1) macroeconomic status, 2) social and cultural factors, 3) infrastructure and human resources, and 4) institutional and policy environment [ 4].
In the longer term, gains in efficiency, reallocation of funds away from inefficient programmes, and other means of redirecting funds may also be possible.
The Government of Mongolia and UNICEF, through the 2012-2016 Country Programme have set the goal of increasing public investment for children and improve the efficiency of the funds allocated to social sectors.
Research funding decisions and the efficiency of such funding has attracted much critique [ 2, 3].
I mention this not to criticise the research councils, who are doing the best job they can in a difficult funding climate, but simply to show the relative efficiency of allocating funding through QR and the REF. A healthy, vibrant research system needs diverse routes to funding, which is why the UK's dual support system has served us so well over the past thirty years.
This alignment between political priorities and funding flows can ultimately increase the efficiency of RH funding.
Or look at the Forbes.com tear sheet for the fund, which also has that information, and Forbes propriety ratings for the cost and tax efficiency of the fund.
Before buying, investors can check the tax efficiency of a fund at www.Morningstar.com, clicking first on total returns, then on tax analysis.
As a sharp ax hangs over government budgets in the United Kingdom a new 4-year spending plan from the governing Conservative Party is due out next week a major review today recommended ways to increase the efficiency of science funding.
What this review highlights, however, is a shortage of studies that are conducted to a rigorous scientific standard, and of which results are made publicly available, to generate much needed evidence on health impact, effectiveness and efficiency of external funding.
