|
on Sociology of Economics |
| By: | Eleonora Alabrese; Francesco Capozza; Prashant Garg |
| Abstract: | The study measures scientists’ polarization on social media and its impact on public perceptions of their credibility. Analyzing 98, 000 scientists on Twitter from 2016 to 2022 reveals significant divergence in expressed political opinions. An experiment assesses the impact of online political expression on a representative sample of 1, 700 U.S. respondents, who rated vignettes with synthetic academic profiles varying scientists’ political affiliations based on real tweets. Politically neutral scientists are viewed as the most credible. Strikingly, on both the ’left’ and ’right’ sides of politically neutral, there is a monotonic penalty for scientists displaying political affiliations: the stronger their posts, the less credible their profile and research are perceived, and the lower the public’s willingness to read their content. The penalty varies with respondents’ political leanings. |
| Keywords: | Twitter, trust in science, ideological polarization, affective polarization, online experiment |
| JEL: | A11 C93 D72 D83 D91 I23 Z10 Z13 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11254 |
| By: | Mabel Andalón; Catherine de Fontenay; Donna K. Ginther; Kwanghui Lim |
| Abstract: | Teamwork has become more important in recent decades. We show that larger teams generate an unintended side effect: individuals who finish their PhD when the average team in their field is larger have worse career prospects. Our analysis combines data on career outcomes from the Survey of Doctorate Recipients with publication data that measures team size from ISI Web of Science. As average team size in a field increased over time, junior academic scientists became less likely to secure research funding or obtain tenure and were more likely to leave academia relative to their older counterparts. The team size effect can fully account for the observed decline in tenure prospects in academic science. The rise in team size was not associated with the end of mandatory retirement. However, the doubling of the NIH budget was associated with a significant increase in team size. Our results demonstrate that academic science has not adjusted its reward structure, which is largely individual, in response to team science. Failing to address these concerns means a significant loss as junior scientists exit after a costly and specialized education in science. |
| JEL: | I23 J24 J4 |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32827 |
| By: | Heather Long |
| Abstract: | Columnist Heather Long discusses her career in journalism, advice for young professionals and what helps bring diverse people to the field of economics. |
| Keywords: | women in economics; journalism |
| Date: | 2024–08–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:l00001:98682 |
| By: | Francine D. Blau; Lisa M. Lynch |
| Abstract: | This paper provides an overview of what has happened over the past fifty years for women as they worked to break through professional barriers in economics, policy, and institutional leadership. We chart the progress of women in higher education at the college level and beyond and then go on to examine women’s representation at the upper levels of academia, government, law, medicine, and management. We begin our description of trends in 1972 when Title IX was enacted, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. The data paint a picture of considerable progress but also persistent inequities. We then go on to consider possible explanations for the continuing gender differences and some of the empirical evidence on the factors identified. |
| JEL: | J0 J01 J10 J16 J2 J21 J24 J7 J70 |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32820 |
| By: | Andreas Bergh; Philipp C. Wichardt; Philipp Christoph Wichardt |
| Abstract: | Establishing causal relationships is a core aspect of empirical economics. Borrowing ideas from the medical sciences, we propose tentative guidelines for reliable causal inferences that cover aspects related to both the study itself and its fit with the existing background knowledge. Moreover, we argue that the current paradigm in economics (often connected to the credibility revolution) tends to put too much emphasis on internal aspects related solely to the study itself. To illustrate and substantiate this view, we discuss various excellent studies from different fields of economics, which all express causal and highly policy relevant claims. From an applied point of view, the conclusion drawn is that policy implications based on single studies are inherently uncertain, even if the respective studies are state of the art. |
| Keywords: | causality, empirical economics, methodology, credibility |
| JEL: | B41 C90 D90 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11224 |