Purpose: This study compares the hierarchical structure of scientific teams across countries and investigates factors associated with the observed cross-national differences. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on 150,817 publications with author contribution statements, we focus on the 15 countries with the largest volume of scientific publications, examine cross-country variations in the proportion of tall teams, and analyze how this proportion correlates with other factors. Findings: Scientific output from East Asia is dominated by tall teams, which persist after controlling for team size, indicating that this pattern cannot be fully accounted for by the prevalence of larger teams in these countries. Cultural factors, measured by Power Distance, as well as the observed funding patterns of major basic science agencies, are associated with the dominance of tall teams in East Asia. Research limitations: This study is limited by its reliance on publications with author contribution statements, which may introduce selection bias; its focus on cultural and funding factors, while leaving other institutional contexts unexamined; and its use of a leadership concentration measure that does not capture other dimensions of hierarchy. Practical implications: Understanding cross-national differences in research team structures and their associated cultural and institutional factors can inform science policy and team management. Originality/value: This study provides a systematic cross-national comparison of team hierarchy and offers a mechanistic understanding of the dominance of tall teams in East Asia, highlighting associations with cultural and funding factors.

翻译：目的：本研究比较了各国科研团队的层级结构，并探究与观测到的跨国差异相关的因素。设计/方法/路径：基于150,817篇附有作者贡献声明的论文，聚焦科研产出规模最大的15个国家，分析“高塔团队”占比的跨国差异，并探究该比例与其他因素的关联。研究发现：东亚地区的科学产出由“高塔团队”主导，且在控制团队规模后这一现象仍然存在，表明该特征不能完全由这些国家大型团队的普遍性所解释。以权力距离衡量的文化因素，以及主要基础科学机构的资助模式，与东亚地区“高塔团队”的主导地位存在关联。研究局限：本研究依赖于附有作者贡献声明的论文，可能存在选择偏差；聚焦文化和资助因素，未考察其他制度背景；采用领导力集中度指标，未能捕捉层级结构的其他维度。实践意义：理解科研团队结构的跨国差异及其相关的文化与制度因素，可为科学政策制定与团队管理提供参考。原创性/价值：本研究首次系统比较了跨国团队层级结构，从机制层面揭示了东亚地区“高塔团队”主导地位的文化与资助因素关联性。