Matching and Network Effects

Marcel Fafchamps, Marco van der Leij and Sanjeev Goyal

Economics Discussion Papers from University of Essex, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper examines the existence and magnitude of network effects in the matching of work teams. We study the formation of co-author relations among economists over a thirty year period. Our principal finding is that a collaboration emerges faster among two authors if they are closer in the social network of economists. This proximity effect on collaboration is strong and robust but only affects initial collaboration. It has no positive influence on subsequent co-authorship. We also provide some evidence that matching depends on experience, junior authors being more likely to collaborate with senior authors.

Keywords: network formation; assortative matching; scientific collaboration; academia; job referral (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Matching and Network Effects (2010)
Working Paper: Matching and network effects (2009)
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