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Power laws of research output. Evidence for journals of economics

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Abstract

In this paper we examine the validity of Lotka's law and Zipf'slaw for research output in 15 top journals of economics in the period 1977to 1997. Our data for individual authors satisfy a general form of Lotka'slaw. We find increasing competition over time among economists on the individuallevel. However, publications in top journals are concentrated heavily whenthe institutional level is under consideration. Research output of institutionscan be fit adequately by Zipf's law.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, (Austria)

    Matthias Sutter & Martin G. Kochner

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  1. Matthias Sutter
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  2. Martin G. Kochner
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Sutter, M., Kochner, M.G. Power laws of research output. Evidence for journals of economics. Scientometrics 51, 405–414 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012757802706

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012757802706

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