Network analysis of “top-five” economics journals

Gregori Galofré-Vilà

Journal of Comparative Economics, 2026, vol. 54, issue 2, 621-634

Abstract: This paper examines patterns in knowledge production within the top-five economics journals from 2000 to 2024. Drawing on the full set of published articles and associated bibliometric details, citations, co-authorship links, and institutional affiliations, I document notable shifts in the orientation of research. The share of theoretical work has declined, while empirical fields, particularly development, labor, and public economics, have expanded. Network analysis shows that although the substantive questions and analytical approaches in top-five journals are changing, a small group of U.S. universities continues to account for a disproportionate share of highly cited work and occupies central positions in citation networks, a core that at the same time facilitates communication and exchange across fields.

Keywords: Bibliometric analysis; Citation trajectories; Economics; Empirical research; Field journals; Google scholar; Network analysis; Theory; Top-five journals; Web of science (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:54:y:2026:i:2:p:621-634

DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2026.02.007

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