The purpose of this article is to explore how time resources for research are allocated among academic staff members in institutions where research qualifications differ much between individuals. Norwegian university colleges are used as a case. These resources, which can be regarded as scarce goods, are of two kinds: the share of working hours that can be used for research, and definitive periods during which one is free to dedicate work hours to research. Of the many factors to consider when allocating scarce resources between individuals, the article distinguishes between the following: (a) type of good; (b) decision-making levels; (c) size of the good; (d) circle of recipients; (e) allocation principles; (f) allocation criteria; and (g) allocation procedures. The article concludes that the allocation of time resources for research among individual staff members is to a large extent made up of compromises between different allocation principles, allocation criteria and allocation procedures, and can be understood only in reference to the historical and social context of each institution and its various departments.