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Academic honors and performance

Author

Listed:
  • Chan, Ho Fai
  • Frey, Bruno S.
  • Gallus, Jana
  • Torgler, Benno

Abstract

Despite the social importance of awards, they have been largely disregarded by academic research in economics. This paper investigates whether receiving prestigious academic awards—the John Bates Clark Medal and the Fellowship of the Econometric Society—is associated with higher subsequent research productivity and status compared to a synthetic control group of non-recipient scholars with similar previous research performance. Our results suggest statistically significant positive publication and citation differences after award receipt.

Suggested Citation

  • Chan, Ho Fai & Frey, Bruno S. & Gallus, Jana & Torgler, Benno, 2014. "Academic honors and performance," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 188-204.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:31:y:2014:i:c:p:188-204
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2014.05.005
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Awards; Incentives; Research; Academic medals; Synthetic control;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General

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