nep-sog New Economics Papers
on Sociology of Economics
Issue of 2023‒12‒11
three papers chosen by
Jonas Holmström, Axventure AB


  1. Open science practices in demographic research: an appraisal By Basellini, Ugofilippo
  2. Uncovering the Contributions of Black Women to Economics By Nina Banks
  3. Quantity versus quality in publication activity: knowledge production at the regional level By Timur Gareev; Irina Peker

  1. By: Basellini, Ugofilippo
    Abstract: BACKGROUND In the light of recent concerns about the reliability of scientific research, the open science movement has attracted considerable attention and interest from a variety of sources, including researchers, research institutions, the business industry, intergovernmental organizations, the media and the public. However, the current extent of openness in demographic research remains unknown. METHODS All relevant publications in four leading journals of anglophone demography -- Demography, Population and Development Review, Population Studies and Demographic Research -- over the last decade are analysed. Using a text search algorithm, two quantitative metrics of open scientific knowledge are estimated: the share of publications that can be openly accessed, and the share of publications providing openly available data and/or software codes. RESULTS Two contrasting patterns in these indicators emerge. Access to demographic research papers is increasingly available to everyone, with more than 90\% of Open Access publications in 2023. Conversely, the availability of open data and/or software codes is considerably low, ranging from an average of about 6-9\% in three journals to about 28\% in Demographic Research, with no overall signs of improvement over time. CONTRIBUTION This reflection provides the first assessment of the adoption of some open science practices in demographic research and their evolution during the last decade. An urgent change is needed in the sharing of data (when possible) and especially of software codes to contribute advancing demographic research. Some recommendations for fostering this change are discussed.
    Date: 2023–11–15
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:vrcdh&r=sog
  2. By: Nina Banks
    Abstract: Economist Nina Banks reveals her own work and the work by Sadie T.M. Alexander, the first Black American to receive a doctorate in economics.
    Keywords: women in economics; Black women in economics
    Date: 2022–01–17
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:l00001:94067&r=sog
  3. By: Timur Gareev; Irina Peker
    Abstract: This study contributes to the ongoing debate regarding the balance between quality and quantity in research productivity and publication activity. Using empirical regional knowledge production functions, we establish a significant correlation between R&D spending and research output, specifically publication productivity, while controlling for patenting activity and socioeconomic factors. Our focus is on the dilemma of research quantity versus quality, which is analysed in the context of regional thematic specialization using spatial lags. When designing policies and making forecasts, it is important to consider the quality of research measured by established indicators. In this study, we examine the dual effect of research quality on publication activity. We identify two groups of quality factors: those related to the quality of journals and those related to the impact of publications. On average, these factors have different influences on quantitative measures. The quality of journals shows a negative relationship with quantity, indicating that as journal quality increases, the number of publications decreases. On the other hand, the impact of publications can be approximated by an inverse parabolic shape, with a positive decreasing slope within a common range of values. This duality in the relationship between quality factors and quantitative measures may explain some of the significant variations in conclusions found in the literature. We compare several models that explore factors influencing publication activity using a balanced panel dataset of Russian regions from 2009 to 2021. Additionally, we propose a novel approach using thematic scientometric parameters as a special type of proximity measure between regions in thematic space. Incorporating spatial spillovers in thematic space allows us to account for potential cross-sectional dependence in regional data.
    Date: 2023–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2311.08830&r=sog

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