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Geography, Ties, and Knowledge Flows: Evidence from Citations in Mathematics

Author

Listed:
  • Yao Amber Li

    (Department of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Institute for Emerging Market Studies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Keith Head

    (Sander School of Business, University of British Columbia)

  • Asier Minondo

Abstract

Using data on academic citations, career and educational histories of mathematicians, and disaggregated distance data for the world's top 1000 math departments, we study how geography and ties affect knowledge flows among scholars. The ties we consider are coauthorship, past colocation, advisor-mediated relationships, and alma mater relationships (holding a Ph.D. from the institution where another scholar is affiliated). Logit regressions using fixed effects that control for subject similarity, article quality, and temporal lags, show linkages are strongly associated with citation. Controlling for ties generally halves the negative impact of geographic barriers on citations; the distance effect became insignificant after 2004.

Suggested Citation

  • Yao Amber Li & Keith Head & Asier Minondo, 2015. "Geography, Ties, and Knowledge Flows: Evidence from Citations in Mathematics," HKUST IEMS Working Paper Series 2015-30, HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies, revised Sep 2015.
  • Handle: RePEc:hku:wpaper:201530
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    network; distance; border; geography; knowledge flows; academic citations; genealogy; matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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