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The Demographic and Research Styles of Economics Writing

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  • Hamermesh, Daniel S.

    (University of Texas at Austin)

Abstract

This study examines publications in three leading general economics journals from the 1960s through the 2020s, considering levels and trends in the demographics of authors, methodologies of the studies, and patterns of co-authorship. The average age of authors has increased nearly steadily; there has been a sharp increase in the fraction of female authors; the number of authors per paper has risen steadily; and there has been a pronounced shift to articles using newly generated data. All but the first of these trends have been most pronounced in the most recent decade. The study also examines the relationships among these trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamermesh, Daniel S., 2025. "The Demographic and Research Styles of Economics Writing," IZA Discussion Papers 17863, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17863
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Beatrice Cherrier, 2017. "Classifying Economics: A History of the JEL Codes," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(2), pages 545-579, June.
    2. Daniel S. Hamermesh, 2013. "Six Decades of Top Economics Publishing: Who and How?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 51(1), pages 162-172, March.
    3. Aboozar Hadavand & Daniel S. Hamermesh & Wesley W. Wilson, 2024. "Publishing Economics: How Slow? Why Slow? Is Slow Productive? How to Fix Slow?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(1), pages 269-293, March.
    4. Shelly Lundberg & Jenna Stearns, 2019. "Women in Economics: Stalled Progress," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 33(1), pages 3-22, Winter.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sociology of economics; co-authors; authorship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics

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