Scholarly Comments on Academic Economics

Where Would Adam Smith Publish Today? The Near Absence of Math-free Research in Top Journals

by ,

*Daniel Sutter* is an associate professor of economics at the University of Texas - Pan American. He graduated with a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University in 1993, and has previously taught at Northern Michigan University, Old Dominion Universi
*Rex Pjesky* is an assistant professor of economics at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. He received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oklahoma in 2002. His primary research area is state and local public finance. His email is pjesky@ns

Abstract

Using papers published in 2003 and 2004, we measure the extent of math-free research in top economics journals. Of more than 1200 papers published in ten top journals, six percent met a weak criterion of math-free, three percent an intermediate criterion, and only 1.5 percent a strong criterion. General interest journals published more math-free papers than field journals. If Adam Smith were alive today, to survive he would in all likelihood need to learn math. His extensive mastery of literature, history, ethics, and rhetoric would ill-serve his career.

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Volume (Issue)
Pages
230-240
Published
JEL classification
B41, C0
Keywords
Economic methodology, technical research, model building, regression analysis
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5878 since May 2007

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