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Sources of Evidence for Evidence-based Policymaking: Journals, Articles and Scholarly Structures in the Economic Report of the President 2010-2025

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  • Richard V. Burkhauser
  • Ji Ma

Abstract

How does academic research inform presidential economic policy? This paper investigates the sources of evidence in the Economic Report of the President from 2010 to 2025. We construct a novel dataset of 4,140 unique references cited across the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations to map the evidence base used by the Council of Economic Advisers. Our analysis shows that peer-reviewed articles, comprising 66.62% of all these references, are heavily concentrated in top-tier economics journals. While the specific articles cited change with policy priorities, the hierarchy of journals remains moderately stable across years and administrations. A co-author network analysis reveals a scholarly landscape of distinct intellectual camps. Crucially, a small number of high-centrality scholars act as brokers, connecting these disparate research communities. Together, our findings illuminate the social structure of evidence-based policymaking, demonstrating how journal hierarchies and scholarly networks shape the flow of economic knowledge to the White House.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard V. Burkhauser & Ji Ma, 2025. "Sources of Evidence for Evidence-based Policymaking: Journals, Articles and Scholarly Structures in the Economic Report of the President 2010-2025," NBER Working Papers 34597, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34597
    Note: AG CH EEE EH LS PE POL
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • N01 - Economic History - - General - - - Development of the Discipline: Historiographical; Sources and Methods

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