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Acquiring Knowledge over the Economist’s Lifetime

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  • Hendrik P. van Dalen

    () (Erasmus University Rotterdam and NIDI, The Hague)

Abstract

In this paper the reading behaviour of economists is examined to see whether particular types of knowledge - basic and applied - imply different investment patterns. As it turns out, the reading intensity of advanced theoretical and empirical literature declines with three to four percent per year of experience, although researchers and economists with a mathematical background start with a higher initial stock of knowledge of this type of literature. Business and government economists concentrate on applied literature and news magazines; a type of literature which is not frequently read by mathematical economists. However, the mathematical economists catch up with their non-mathematical colleagues in 12 to 15 years time. Furthermore, the introduction of graduate schools in Dutch academia has not brought about a fundamental change in reading habits. The biggest factor in explaining the divergence in reading behaviour among economists remains the mathematical, c.q. econometrics background in undergraduate training.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by Tinbergen Institute in its series Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers with number 97-124/1.

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Date of creation: 09 Dec 1997
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Handle: RePEc:dgr:uvatin:19970124

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  1. Lovell, Michael C, 1973. "The Production of Economic Literature: An Interpretation," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 11(1), pages 27-55, March.
  2. David Colander, 2003. "The Aging of an Economist," Middlebury College Working Paper Series 0304, Middlebury College, Department of Economics.
  3. Magnus, Jan R. & Morgan, Mary S., 1987. "The ET Interview: Professor J. Tinbergen," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 3(01), pages 117-142, February.
  4. Stigler, George J & Stigler, Stephen M & Friedland, Claire, 1995. "The Journals of Economics," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 103(2), pages 331-59, April.
  5. Bruno S. Frey & Reiner Eichenberger, 1993. "American and European Economics and Economists," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 7(4), pages 185-193, Fall.
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