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Viral economics: an epidemiological model of knowledge diffusion in economics

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  • Nicole Gurley
  • Daniel K.N. Johnson

Abstract

We model the diffusion of economic knowledge using an epidemiological model of susceptible, exposed, infected/inspired, and recovered populations (SEIR). Treating peer-reviewed journal publications as evidence of a scholar’s infection/inspiration with energy for an idea or theme, we estimate the coefficients of a four-equation simultaneous system for each of 759 sub-fields of economics. Results show that some sub-fields of economics (or viruses, here) grow endogenously much faster than others, and just over half have basic reproduction properties sufficient to ensure survival without the annual addition of new protégé scholars.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole Gurley & Daniel K.N. Johnson, 2017. "Viral economics: an epidemiological model of knowledge diffusion in economics," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 69(1), pages 320-331.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxecpp:v:69:y:2017:i:1:p:320-331.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oep/gpw044
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • B20 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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