nep-sog 2021-11-29 papers

on Sociology of Economics

Issue of 2021‒11‒29
two papers chosen by
Jonas Holmström
Axventure AB

A Note on the Global Distribution of Authorship in Economics Journals By Jacob Greenspon; Dani Rodrik
Manhattan Transfer: Productivity effects of agglomeration in American authorship By Lukas Kuld; Sara Mitchell; Christiane Hellmanzik

A Note on the Global Distribution of Authorship in Economics Journals

By:	Jacob Greenspon; Dani Rodrik
Abstract:	Using Fontana et al.’s (2019) database, we analyze levels and trends in the global distribution of authorship in economics journals, disaggregating by country/region, quality of journal, and fields of specialization. We document striking imbalances. While Western and Northern European authors have made substantial gains, the representation of authors based in low-income countries remains extremely low -- an order of magnitude lower than the weight of their countries or regions in the global economy. Developing country representation has risen fastest at journals rated 100th or lower, while it has barely increased in journals rated 25th or higher. Fields such as international or development where global diversification may have been expected have not experienced much increase in developing country authorship. These results are consistent with a general increase in the relative supply of research in the rest of the world. But they also indicate authors from developing countries remain excluded from the profession’s top-rated journals.
JEL:	A1
Date:	2021–10
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29435&r=

Manhattan Transfer: Productivity effects of agglomeration in American authorship

By:	Lukas Kuld (Department of Business and Economics, TU Dortmund); Sara Mitchell (Department of Business and Economics, TU Dortmund); Christiane Hellmanzik (Department of Business and Economics, TU Dortmund)
Abstract:	We investigate quantity and quality effects of agglomeration in the careers of American authors. We combine novel yearly data on publications and work location of 471 eminent authors with US Census data to provide a complete picture of industry concentration and agglomeration economies from 1850-2000. We find that, on aggregate, an author has 40\% higher odds of publishing while living in New York City. The effect size increases with industry concentration but declines with industry maturity and technological progress after WWII. Taking relocation of working-age authors to New York City as an event study, we see a significant immediate increase in publications after arriving. In comparison, the penalty of moving away from the city is mild. Works published while an author lived in New York City were more likely to achieve critical acclaim and are more likely to have lasting influence in terms of present-day popularity.
Keywords:	Agglomeration economies, urban history, geographic clustering, productivity, literature, creativity
JEL:	N30 N90 R11 Z11
Date:	2021–07
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcd:tcduee:tep0821&r=

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