The ranking of world top 100 universities by subject matter and by region in 2012 records the absolute dominance of North America academia in all the 5 disciplines considered here, by placing a total of 294 institutions, or 59% in percent terms, in the list. North American universities progress forward in chemistry, computer science and economics/business at the expenses of Europe and Asia Pacific. Europe comes second with 127 or 25%. Asia and Pacific are third with 62 or 12%, and the rest of the world amounts to 3%.
Although with strong presences in all disciplines, North American universities have the strongest presence in economics / business, where they place 79 universities among the world top 100. For good or for evil, the fact may be interpreted as a signpost of the global preeminence of American ideologies in the realm of economics and business management.
Physics (35), mathematics (31) and chemistry (26) are the disciplines where European universities have the best presence. The universities of Asia and Pacific are more often listed in chemistry (23), computer sciences (17) and physics (11).
Academic ranking of world universities by subject matter and by region in 2012 | |||||
Subject matter | North America | Europe | Asia & Pacific | Rest of the World | Total |
| Mathematics | 56 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 100 |
| Physics | 51 | 35 | 11 | 3 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 49 | 26 | 23 | 2 | 100 |
| Computer Science | 58 | 20 | 17 | 5 | 100 |
| Economics / Business | 80 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 100 |
| Total (number) | 294 | 127 | 62 | 17 | 500 |
| Total (percent) | 59% | 25% | 12% | 3% | 100% |
Sources: Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai.
