Rankings and Job Market Dynamics: A Model of Academic Science

Robin Cowan and Nicolas Jonard

Working Papers of BETA from Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg

Abstract: Among the many changes that have affected academic life in recent decades we draw attention to two: increasing collaboration in the production of knowledge, and the rising prominence of (automated) “rankings” in evaluation of individuals and institutions. In this paper we build a model to address the effect of the latter in the presence of the former. Scientists collaborate to create new knowledge. Intradepartment collaborations dominate, but cross-department knowledge flows are present in two forms: collegial links outside a department, and a job market whereby scientists can change departments. Rankings enter the model through the job market: they are parametrized to control the extent to which they are used to evaluate job candidates on the one side, and job openings on the other side of the market. We find that when rankings are aggressively pursued aggregate knowledge output is lower, and further, knowledge production at both individual and department levels is more stratified or segregated. These effects can be mitigated by encouraging extra-department collaboration, but we observe that this strategy will erode the coherence (and purpose) of the department structures in which universities are currently organized.

Keywords: Economics of science; Universities; University rankings; Academic labour market dynamics. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 O31 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-sog
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2024-52

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