Ranking Economics Departments Worldwide on the Basis of PhD Placement

Abstract

Four rankings of economics departments worldwide in terms of graduate education are constructed. The central methodological idea is that the value of a department is the sum of the values of its PhD graduates, as reflected in the values of their current employing departments. Scores are derived as solutions to linear simultaneous equations in the values. The sample includes the top 58 departments, the composition of which is determined endogenously, invoking a criterion requiring more than three placements in the sample. Illuminating the current state and trends of economics PhD education, the conclusions should be of broad interest to PhD candidates, academics, and policymakers. Copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Contributors to the American Sociological Review, 2010

“…Some studies on rankings of economics departments or economics journals in the past several years, for example, have also utilized the internet to compile data. For example, in a study ranking economics departments in the world, Amir and Knauff (2008) note that their "data were collected in April 2006 directly from the Web sites of the relevant departments" (p. 185; also see Hilmer and Hilmer, 2010). of full-length articles to all 6 issues of the American Sociological Review in 2010.…”

“…These institutions are also among those that award the most number of doctorates in the social sciences. Among the criteria or variables examined in these ranking studies are prestige or reputation, number of scholarly articles published, especially in "top journals", number of citations of the scholars in a department, size of faculty, number of graduate students and number of doctorates awarded annually, number of new doctorate recipients immediately employed at top ranked universities or colleges, and endowment of an institution (Amir and Knauff, 2008;Nelson and Brammer, 2010;Burris, 2004;DiFuccia et al, 2007;"Economics: Ranked in 2009" 7 ;Eliason, 2008: pp. 51-52;Hinshaw and Siegfried, 1995;Kaba, 2009Kaba, , 2012Keith and Babchuk, 1998;Marwell, 2012;Paxton and Bollen, 2003;Oprisko, 2012;"Sociology: Ranked in 2009" 8 ; " Table 4.…”

“…This is especially the case when one examines the characteristics of the contributors to these three social science journals. The academic degrees earned by scholars and the year when such degrees are earned by contributors to these top ranked journals have also been studied extensively (Amir and Knauff, 2008;Burris, 2004: pp. 241-242;Eliason, 2008: p. 52;Kaba, 2011ac, 2012Keith and Babchuk, 1998;Lyytinen, 2007;Marwell, 2012: pp.…”

Profile of Contributors to the American Political Science Review, 2010

“…For example, Breuning and Sanders (2007) used a similar method in a study of women who published articles in eight prestigious political science journals: "In the few cases where academic rank, academic discipline, or gender could not be determined on the basis of the biographical note, we relied on Internet searches" (p. 348). In a study ranking economics departments in the world, Amir and Knauff (2008) note that their, "data were collected in April 2006 directly from the Web sites of the relevant departments" (p. 185).…”

“…For example, Breuning and Sanders (2007) used a similar method in a study of women who published articles in eight prestigious political science journals: "In the few cases where academic rank, academic discipline, or gender could not be determined on the basis of the biographical note, we relied on Internet searches" (p. 348). In a study ranking economics departments in the world, Amir and Knauff (2008) note that their, "data were collected in April 2006 directly from the Web sites of the relevant departments" (p. 185). Brandes et al, 2001;Breuning & Sanders, 2007;Cassese et al, 2012;Evans & Moulder, 2011;Fisher et al, 1998;Grofman, 2009;Hesli et al, 2012;Lopez, 2003;Losco, 1998;Mann, 1998;Marshall & Rothgeb, Jr., 2011;Miller & Tien, 1996;Nelson & Brammer, 2010; Rothgeb, Jr. & Burger, 2009;Sampaio, 2006;Stegmaier et al, 2011;Young, 1995).…”