nep-sog New Economics Papers
on Sociology of Economics
Issue of 2007‒10‒20
five papers chosen by
Jonas Holmström
Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration

  1. An Auction Market for Journal Articles By Prufer, J.; Zetland, D.
  2. How Does the Government (Want to) Fund Science? Politics, Lobbying and Academic Earmarks By John M. de Figueiredo; Brian S. Silverman
  3. A DISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS OF THE PHD COMPLETIONS IN AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES By Valadkhani,Abbas; Ville, Simon
  4. SCIENCE AND IDEOLOGY IN ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL THOUGHT By Hillinger, Claude
  5. Mellom økonomi og kultur: Det europeiske universitetet i endring By Johan P. Olsen

  1. By: Prufer, J.; Zetland, D. (Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research)
    Abstract: Economic articles are published very slowly. We believe this results mainly from the poor incentives referees face. We recommend that an auction market replace the current system for submitting papers and demonstrate a strict Pareto-improvement of equilibrium. Besides the benefits of speed, this mechanism increases the average quality of articles and journals and rewards editors and referees for their effort. In addition, the "academic dollars" for papers sold at auction go to the authors, editors and referees of cited articles. This income indicates academic productivity (facilitating decisions on tenure and promotion); its recirculation to journals further stimulates quality competition.
    Keywords: Academic Journals;Academic Productivity;Market Design. JEL codes
    Date: 2007
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:kubcen:200779&r=sog
  2. By: John M. de Figueiredo; Brian S. Silverman
    Abstract: This paper examines academic earmarks and their role in the funding of university research. It provides a summary and review of the evidence on the supply of earmarks by legislators. It then discusses the role of university lobbying for earmarks on the demand side. Finally, the paper examines the impact of earmarks on research quantity and quality.
    JEL: H41 O38 P16
    Date: 2007–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:13459&r=sog
  3. By: Valadkhani,Abbas (University of Wollongong); Ville, Simon (University of Wollongong)
    Abstract: This paper identifies the major areas of research strengths and concentration across all Australian universities, as demonstrated by the number of PhDs and academic staff members (S) in ten broad fields of education using the average audited data (2001-2003). The ratio of PhD completions to S is then presented to provide a tentative basis for benchmarking and productivity analysis. Inter alia, we found a very interesting relationship between the number of PhD graduates (as the dependent variable) and S using a fixed-effect model with both disciplinespecific slope and intercept coefficients. The results provide policy implications for individual universities and government.
    Keywords: Australian universities, ranking, PhD completions, cross-sectional model
    JEL: A19 C23 I21 I28
    Date: 2007
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uow:depec1:wp07-12&r=sog
  4. By: Hillinger, Claude
    Abstract: This paper has two sources: One is my own research in three broad areas: business cycles, economic measurement and social choice. In all of these fields I attempted to apply the basic precepts of the scientific method as it is understood in the natural sciences. I found that my effort at using natural science methods in economics was met with little understanding and often considerable hostility. I found economics to be driven less by common sense and empirical evidence, than by various ideologies that exhibited either a political or a methodological bias, or both. This brings me to the second source: Several books have appeared recently that describe in historical terms the ideological forces that have shaped either the direct areas in which I worked, or a broader background. These books taught me that the ideological forces in the social sciences are even stronger than I imagined on the basis of my own experiences. The scientific method is the antipode to ideology. I feel that the scientific work that I have done on specific, long standing and fundamental problems in economics and political science have given me additional insights into the destructive role of ideology beyond the history of thought orientation of the works I will be discussing.
    Keywords: Business cycles, Ideology, Science, Voting, Welfare measurement
    JEL: B40 C50 D6 D71 E32
    Date: 2007
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifwedp:6170&r=sog
  5. By: Johan P. Olsen
    Keywords: institutionalism
    Date: 2007–05–16
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:erp:arenax:p0238&r=sog

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