nep-sog 2023-05-22 papers

on Sociology of Economics

Issue of 2023‒05‒22
two papers chosen by
Jonas Holmström
Axventure AB

Beauty and Productivity in Academic Publishing By Kseniya Bortnikova
The Performance Based Research Fund in NZ: Taking Stock and Looking Forward By Buckle, Robert A.; Creedy, John

Beauty and Productivity in Academic Publishing

By:	Kseniya Bortnikova (Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University)
Abstract:	Academic publishing represents a field in which the opportunity for discrimination based on appearance should be limited since intellectual skills must play a key role. In this work, I document the beauty effect for economic scholars. Using unique data on academics who published their research papers in economic journals in 2017 I test whether more attractive academics are more productive. I found evidence that appearance is positively and significantly associated with the success of research output as measured by the higher number of citations. However, the effect magnitude is rather small, and it becomes even smaller when I control for the ranking of the Ph.D. granting institution.
Keywords:	Beauty bias, productivity, discrimination, academic publishing
JEL:	C83 J3 J7 M51
Date:	2023–04
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fau:wpaper:wp2023_10&r=sog

The Performance Based Research Fund in NZ: Taking Stock and Looking Forward

By:	Buckle, Robert A.; Creedy, John
Abstract:	This paper draws on earlier research by the authors to review changes in research quality in New Zealand universities since the introduction of the Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) in 2003. The changes are related closely to the incentives created by the scheme, and are associated with the nature of the considerable staff turnover that has taken place over the 15-year period during which it has operated. The precise funding formulae used, relating to the research funds attached to different discipline groups and quality categories, involve political judgements and are not considered here. However, a review of the changed nature of universities and the details of the evaluation process suggest that substantial simplifications could usefully be made while maintaining incentives that are at the heart of any PBRF.
Keywords:	Research Quality, New Zealand, Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF), New Zealand Universities,
Date:	2022
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vuw:vuwcpf:21354&r=sog

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