The path of economics research production: Insights into the seesaw between theory and empirics

João Ricardo Faria, Rajeev Goel and Neela D. Manage

No 2238, Kiel Working Papers from Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel)

Abstract: This paper provides insights into the apparent seesaw between the generation of theoretical versus empirical economics research over time. A dynamic model considers the incentives of researchers to focus on empirical versus theoretical papers. It yields the main characteristics of the path-changing of economics research, from theoretical-intensive to empirical-focused. The model has two equilibria, one with a higher proportion of theoretical papers and another with a higher proportion of empirical papers. Curiously, the equilibrium with greater theoretical papers is stable, while the one with more empirical papers is a saddle point. This suggests that the current trend of increasing empirical research is unlikely to last.

Keywords: economic research; theory; empirics; publications; journals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A11 A19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hpe and nep-sog
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268493/1/1832191680.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: The path of economics research production: Insights into the seesaw between theory and empirics (2024)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:2238

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Kiel Working Papers from Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel) Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics ().