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U.S. and them: The Geography of Academic Research

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  • Das, Jishnu
  • Do, Quy-Toan
  • Shaines, Karen
  • Srikant, Sowmya

Abstract

Using a database of 76,046 empirical economics papers published between 1985 and 2005, we report two associations. First, research output on a given country increases with the country's population and wealth, yielding a strong correlation between per-capita research output and per-capita GDP. Regressions controlling for data quality, governance and the use of English give an estimated research–wealth elasticity of 0.32; surprisingly, the U.S. is not an outlier. Second, papers written about the U.S. are 2.5 percentage-points more likely to be published in the top five economics journals after accounting for authors' institutional affiliations and the field of study. This is a large effect because only 1.5% of all papers written about countries other than the U.S. are published in first-tier journals. No similar premium for research on the U.S. is detected in second-tier general interest journals, where papers from the UK and Europe command a substantial premium instead.

Suggested Citation

  • Das, Jishnu & Do, Quy-Toan & Shaines, Karen & Srikant, Sowmya, 2013. "U.S. and them: The Geography of Academic Research," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 112-130.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:105:y:2013:i:c:p:112-130
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2013.07.010
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    Academic research; Publications;

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