English Proficiency and Labor Market Performance: Evidence from the Economics Profession

William Olney

No 2015-05, Department of Economics Working Papers from Department of Economics, Williams College

Abstract: This paper investigates whether the global spread of the English language provides an inherent advantage to native English speakers. This question is studied within the context of the economics profession, where the impact of being a native English speaker on future publishing success is examined. English speakers may have an advantage since they are writing in their native language, the quality of writing is a crucial determinant of publishing success, and all the top economics journals are published in English. Using a ranking of the world's top 2.5% of economists, this paper confirms that native English speakers are ranked 100 spots higher (better) than similar non-native English speakers. A variety of extensions examine and dispel other potential explanations.

Keywords: English Language; Research Output; Economist Rankings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A11 F60 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 47 pages
Date: 2015-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme and nep-sog
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Related works:
Journal Article: ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND LABOR MARKET PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM THE ECONOMICS PROFESSION (2017)
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