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Fishes, Ponds, And Productivity: Student‐Advisor Matching And Early Career Publishing Success For Economics Phds

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  • MICHAEL J. HILMER
  • CHRISTIANA E. HILMER

Abstract

We examine a unique data set containing information on a PhD recipient’s dissertation advisor, graduate program, and early career publishing success. Regressions controlling for the ranking of both the student’s graduate program and dissertation advisor confirm that, all else equal, students working with prominent advisors are significantly more likely to publish in their early careers, especially in top 36 journals, than students working with less prominent advisors. Moreover, predicted publication values suggest that students attending lower ranked programs but working with superstar faculty publish both more total and top 36 articles and more quality‐adjusted pages than students attending top‐ranked programs but working with less prominent advisors. (JEL J24, A11, A23)

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Hilmer & Christiana E. Hilmer, 2009. "Fishes, Ponds, And Productivity: Student‐Advisor Matching And Early Career Publishing Success For Economics Phds," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 47(2), pages 290-303, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:47:y:2009:i:2:p:290-303
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2007.00108.x
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • A23 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Graduate

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