This paper offers an explanation of the use of tenure-track contracts in academia. It argues that, because the results of academic research cannot be sold, a professor's profitability depends on the market value of the instruction he or she provides. But because that value depends directly on the extent of his or her observable research accomplishments, a profit-maximizing university will dismiss a professor who fails to initially establish a strong research record, but will tolerate a professor who fails to augment a record that is already strong.
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Article provided by Taylor and Francis Journals in its journal Education Economics.
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Cater, Bruce & Lew, Byron & Pivato, Marcus, 2009.
"Why tenure?,"
MPRA Paper
14823, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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