Publishing and Promotion in Economics: The Tyranny of the Top Five

James Heckman and Sidharth Moktan

No 25093, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between placement of publications in Top Five (T5) journals and receipt of tenure in academic economics departments. Analyzing the job histories of tenure-track economists hired by the top 35 U.S. economics departments, we find that T5 publications have a powerful influence on tenure decisions and rates of transition to tenure. A survey of the perceptions of young economists supports the formal statistical analysis. Pursuit of T5 publications has become the obsession of the next generation of economists. However, the T5 screen is far from reliable. A substantial share of influential publications appear in non-T5 outlets. Reliance on the T5 to screen talent incentivizes careerism over creativity.

JEL-codes: A14 I23 J44 O31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (47)

Published as James J. Heckman & Sidharth Moktan, 2020. "Publishing and Promotion in Economics: The Tyranny of the Top Five," Journal of Economic Literature, vol 58(2), pages 419-470.

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Related works:
Chapter: Publishing and promotion in economics - The tyranny of the Top Five (2020)
Journal Article: Publishing and Promotion in Economics: The Tyranny of the Top Five (2020)
Working Paper: Publishing and Promotion in Economics: The Tyranny of the Top Five (2018)
Working Paper: Publishing and Promotion in Economics: The Tyranny of the Top Five (2018)
Working Paper: Publishing and Promotion in Economics: The Tyranny of the Top Five (2018)
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