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Are More Senior Academics Really More Research Productive than Junior Academics? Evidence from Australian Law Schools

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  • Vinod Mishra
  • Russell Smyth

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between academic seniority and research productivity for a sample of academics at Australian law schools. To measure research productivity we use both publications in top law journals, variously defined, and citation metrics. A feature of the study is that we pay particular attention to addressing the endogeneity of academic rank. To do so, we use a novel identification strategy, proposed by Lewbel (2012), which utilizes a heteroscedastic covariance restriction to construct an internal instrumental variable. Our main finding is that once endogeneity of academic rank is addressed, more senior academics at Australian law schools do not publish more articles in top law journals, irrespective of how top law journals are defined, than their less senior colleagues. However, Professors continue to have greater impact than Lecturers when research productivity is measured in terms of total citations and common citation indices, such as the h-index and g-index.

Suggested Citation

  • Vinod Mishra & Russell Smyth, 2012. "Are More Senior Academics Really More Research Productive than Junior Academics? Evidence from Australian Law Schools," Monash Economics Working Papers 47-12, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2012-47
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    8. Li Hou & Qiang Wu & Yundong Xie, 2022. "Does early publishing in top journals really predict long-term scientific success in the business field?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(11), pages 6083-6107, November.
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    10. Russell Smyth & Vinod Mishra, 2014. "Academic inbreeding and research productivity and impact in Australian law schools," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 583-618, January.
    11. Ahmed, Rifaan & Kesavayuth, Dusanee & Zikos, Vasileios, 2018. "Does being smarter make you happier? Evidence from Europe," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 55-67.
    12. Shamsul Arifeen Khan Mamun & Mohammad Mafizur Rahman, 2016. "Modelling a Causal Relationship between the Internet and Academic Research Performance in an Australian University: A Case Study," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 10(1), pages 143-167, February.
    13. Shamsul Arifeen Khan Mamun & Mohammad Mafizur Rahman, 2015. "Is there any feedback effect between academic research publication and research collaboration? Evidence from an Australian university," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(3), pages 2179-2196, December.
    14. Nikolaos A. Kazakis, 2014. "Bibliometric evaluation of the research performance of the Greek civil engineering departments in National and European context," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 101(1), pages 505-525, October.
    15. Bao Ngoc, Nguyen Le & Kesavayuth, Dusanee & Rangkakulnuwat, Poomthan, 2022. "Effect of Locus of Control on Job Performance:Evidence from Australian Panel Data," Asian Journal of Applied Economics/ Applied Economics Journal, Kasetsart University, Faculty of Economics, Center for Applied Economic Research, vol. 29(1), pages 1-25, June.
    16. Nikolaos A. Kazakis, 2015. "The research activity of the current faculty of the Greek chemical engineering departments: a bibliometric study in national and international context," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 103(1), pages 229-250, April.
    17. Nabil Amara & Réjean Landry & Norrin Halilem, 2015. "What can university administrators do to increase the publication and citation scores of their faculty members?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 103(2), pages 489-530, May.
    18. Cheng, Zhiming & Smyth, Russell, 2015. "Sex and happiness," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 26-32.
    19. Xin Gu & Karen Blackmore, 2017. "Quantitative study on Australian academic science," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 113(2), pages 1009-1035, November.

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